Manual on Best Practise of Seaweed cultivation : Kappaphycus alvarezii

Kappaphycus alvarezii (Doty) Doty (= Eucheuma\striatum = Kappaphycus striatum), which weregrown originally in Japan (Mairh et al., 1995)were initially cultured in Okha, west coast ofIndia. Acclimatization and large scale cultivationof this alga was achieved on the coast of Mandapam, south east coast of India, during 1995to 1997.. CSMCRI (Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute –Marine Algal Research Station -CSIR), Mandapam commenced farming on R&D basis and transferred the technology forthe first time India and being cultivated in TamilNadu since 2001. PepsiCoIndia Holdings Private Limited, Gurgoan is deeply involved in the cultivation of this economically important seaweed from 2001 to June. 2008, which got the technology from CSMCRI in 2001. This company was successful in expanding cultivation activities to Tamil Nadu with 15000 bamboo rafts occupied 9 km linear coastline from Mandapam to Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district and mono line method was adopted in Pudukkottai district in12 hectares area. Currently there are several companies such as MARINE LIXURS, Tuticorin , Prasmo Agri Pvt. Ltd, Kumbakonam are involved in cultivation and purchasing of this seaweed through buyback arrangement with SHG’s. Nearly more than 1000 fishers are involved in seaweed farming.