Latest news with #Sargassum
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Seaweed sector in India holds promise: Experts
Mangaluru: India has immense untapped potential in seaweed cultivation, but scaling up production will require targeted policies, scientific planning, and serious investment from private sector, according to Dr Grinson George, director, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI). Speaking about the current status, Dr George said global seaweed production stands at 35.5 million metric tonnes, while India contributes only around 1 lakh tonnes. "Over 300 sites have been identified for seaweed cultivation across the country, but profitability remains a major hurdle," he said. For the sector to grow meaningfully, multinational companies must step in with serious investments, he added. "Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have submitted draft policies on marine-culture policy. A team is working on seaweed cultivation with support from dept of fisheries, govt of India," he noted. Dr George pointed out that the type of seaweed cultivated plays a crucial role in commercial viability. Native species like Sargassum fetch just Rs 11 per kg, while non-native varieties such as Kappaphycus alvarezii fetch up to Rs 69 per kg. The govt has issued import and quarantine guidelines. CMFRI, which was designated as the Centre of Excellence for Seaweed Farming, is now facilitating stakeholder consultations to frame sustainable cultivation practices. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why seniors are rushing to get this Internet box – here's why! Techno Mag Learn More Undo Meanwhile, director of Karnataka fisheries department, Dinesh Kumar Kaller said that despite salinity fluctuations and urbanisation challenges in Mangaluru, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts show great potential for seaweed farming. "We tried seaweed cultivation in Ankola, but it did not succeed due to fluctuating salinity. We are now considering a cluster model and looking to procure high-quality seeds from Mandapam (Tamil Nadu) or Bhavnagar (Gujarat). This approach can reduce transportation costs for farmers and simplify marketing," he said. He also added that CMFRI has identified suitable locations in Udupi and Uttara Kannada, and a cluster-based model could help unlock the region's potential for sustainable and profitable seaweed farming.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka submitted draft of mariculture policy, says CMFRI Director
Stating that Karnataka has submitted the draft of its mariculture policy, Grinson George, Director of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), has said that maritime States will have to come out with their respective mariculture and open-water leasing out policies if seaweed farming is to thrive in the country. In the background of the Union government designating CMFRI's Mandapam Regional Centre as the Centre of Excellence for the holistic development and promotion of seaweed culture in the country, Mr. George told The Hindu that if global production of seaweed was at 35.5 million metric tonnes, India's share stood at only one lakh tonnes. 300 sites identified Mr. George said that though the CMFRI had identified 300 sites for seaweed farming in the country, the absence of a mariculture policy for leasing out open water was a hindrance to pushing the cultivation aggressively. Multinational companies (MNCs) that are ready to invest in seaweed culture want a clear-cut policy. MNCs needed a larger area to tap the potential. He stated that the CMFRI developed guidelines on open-water leasing in the mariculture policy, which were submitted to the Union Department of Fisheries. Now, coastal States will have to form their respective policies. 'Sea area, up to 12 nautical miles from the coast, is under the jurisdiction of the States. They can fix the rates and practical ways of taking up seaweed cultivation. Then MNCs will come and invest,' he said. 'Goa has come out with its policy. Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh have submitted their drafts. The CMFRI is technically guiding and supporting the States in fine-tuning their drafts. We have a team working on this,' the Director added. Import guidelines Mr. George said that the Department of Fisheries under the Union government has come out with import guidelines for seaweeds also. 'Now there are proper import guidelines. We can import, quarantine, test, and do farming,' he said. Notwithstanding, some States have concerns over the impacts of non-native seaweeds on biodiversity, including whether they would replace native species or if they would actually thrive, etc. Such fears will have to be allayed properly, he said. Mr. George said that when compared to non-native seaweeds, cultivating native ones is not very profitable. 'For example, native seaweed like Sargassum, when dried, fetches ₹11 per k.g. Whereas non-native seaweed like Kappaphycus alvarezii fetches ₹69 per kg,' he said, adding that non-natives, which can fetch a good price, should be imported for cultivation. He said that seaweed cultivation will have to flourish in the country in many ways. 'Because there is a requirement for bioactive compounds from seaweed, which are being imported by India. It is a great loss in terms of foreign exchange. MNCs have to invest seriously in this seaweed business.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Seaweed overruns some Caribbean beaches as Sargassum hits record levels
PONCE, Puerto Rico – As Sargassum levels surge to unprecedented amounts across parts of the Atlantic basin, some beaches in the Caribbean have already been overwhelmed by the thick, smelly seaweed. Photos and videos taken throughout the Caribbean show extensive accumulations of the smelly algae along the southern and eastern coasts of Puerto Rico, as well as in parts of Cozumel and Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. In some locales, the buildup appeared to be so significant that residents and tourists stayed away from the shoreline entirely, leaving some beaches relatively empty. The uneven impact of the seaweed means one area may be spared while a nearby location experiences the brunt of the activity. Much of the variation appears to be driven by ocean currents that either direct or protect the seaweed from reaching specific locations. Record-breaking Sargassum Invasion In Atlantic, Caribbean Threatens To Foul Beach Resorts Ceiba, a coastal community on Puerto Rico's eastern shore southeast of San Juan, appeared to be one of the hardest-hit areas. Photos taken in the coastal community showed beaches blanketed by the brown algae. Remarkably, the beaches located less than a 20-minute drive away looked pristine, which underscores the unpredictable nature of the event. Unlike the photos from Ceiba, images from tourist-heavy areas along Mexico's Yucatán coast revealed that some areas had benefited from cleanup operations, which helps to temporarily mitigate the unwanted sight. The Mexican government previously stated it was taking a more proactive approach in 2025, dedicating resources to both monitor and manage the seaweed. The government's efforts appeared to be focused on protecting the region's critical tourism industry, which can suffer when unpleasant coastal events arise. Noaa Mission Finds Unexpected Discovery At Site Of Sunken Uss Yorktown While the seaweed might look unpleasant, health experts advise beachgoers that the Sargassum isn't usually harmful to humans. However, tiny creatures that bury in the globs can produce rashes and blisters if contact is made with the skin. For some species of marine life, the brown algae are considered to be helpful, and biologists believe that the buildup provides food and refuge for small fish, crabs, shrimp and other organisms. Monthly updates from the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab are expected to show that the Sargassum will remain at significant levels at least through the summer. Experts at the Tampa-based university warn that increased amounts could lead to problems along the U.S. Gulf Coast and Florida, but it remains to be seen whether volumes will rival what was experienced during the 2023 article source: Seaweed overruns some Caribbean beaches as Sargassum hits record levels
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
See it: Florida beach overloaded with thousands of sand fleas
SATELLITE BEACH, Fla.– Thousands of sand fleas were caught on video swarming a beach along Florida's Space Coast. The video, taken May 27 on Satellite Beach, shows the tiny critters burrowing through the sand. Despite their name, sand fleas are actually crustaceans. Record-breaking Sargassum Invasion In Atlantic, Caribbean Threatens To Foul Beach Resorts These little creatures have many names, including: mole crabs, sand hoppers and sand fleas. Their name comes from the fact that they like to jump and burrow through the sand, sort of mimicking the behavior of fleas. The video by Denise Derrick Wright shows the crustaceans by the thousands, piled on top of each other. Watch: Florida Bear Takes A Dip In The Ocean, Naps In Beachfront Condo "It was crazy!" Wright told Storyful. She said she and many other locals played with sand fleas as children on the beaches. "Growing up in Satellite Beach, I used to love digging them up! Just so weird seeing them in a colony like that," Wright said. Sand fleas are also harmless to humans and animals. They can't article source: See it: Florida beach overloaded with thousands of sand fleas
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Why scientists are concerned over the record amount of seaweed in the Caribbean
Millions of tons of seaweed currently floating in the tropical Atlantic Ocean could soon make its way toward the United States, according to researchers following the phenomenon. A record amount of sargassum is currently impacting shores throughout the Caribbean, from Puerto Rico to Guyana, scientists say. The prickly, brown algae releases toxic gas, killing wildlife. Sargassum has experienced a "robust population" so far this year, Barry Rosen, professor in the department of ecology and environmental studies at The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University, told ABC News. MORE: What to know about the toxic algae bloom killing marine life in Southern California Nearly 38 million metric tons of sargassum have been observed in the Caribbean, breaking historical records, according to a report released by the University of South Florida on Saturday. The previous record set in June 2022 measured about 22 million metric tons -- marking a 58% increase so far for the record set in 2025. The bulk of the blooms are in the western tropical Atlantic, where the Amazon River empties into the ocean, Brian Lapointe, a professor of ecology and water quality who has been studying sargassum since the 1980s, told ABC News. Droughts in the Amazon River in 2023 and 2024 caused more nitrogen and phosphorus to build up in the watershed. But recent extreme precipitation that caused landslides and flooding in the region caused the "first flush" of large amounts of water from the river to enter the Atlantic Ocean. "It came out of the drought with a vengeance," Lapointe said. The high concentrations of phosphorus likely caused the sargassum plumes to multiply so quickly, he added. Significant Sargassum inundation events have occurred around most Caribbean nations and islands, including the Mexican Caribbean coast, according to the USF report. Researchers have been studying the seaweed since the Great Atlantic Sargassam belt -- a new phenomenon -- occurred in 2011, Brian Barnes, an assistant research professor at the University of South Florida's Optical Oceanography Lab, told The Associated Press. MORE: How kelp farms, an 'environmental powerhouse,' can help mitigate climate change Sargassum is a "public nuisance" that requires disposal, but also rots on beaches, Coty Jen, an associate professor of chemical engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, told ABC News. The algae is especially harmful to mangroves, which serve as nursery habitats, and can smother sea grasses and coral reefs, Lapointe said. "It decomposes and rots and forms these dead zones devoid of oxygen, so you can have fish kills," Lapointe said. The seaweed also releases smelly compounds into the air as it rots, Jen said. The smell stems from hydrogen sulfide, one of the main compounds in sargassum, which contributes to a rotten egg smell. Other compounds like ammonia and amines contribute to the fishy smell, Jen said. The compounds contribute to the formation of fine particulate matter and cause air quality to go down in surrounding neighborhoods, Jen added. Sargassum that has come ashore has already had "catastrophic impacts" throughout the Caribbean, Lapointe said. Tourism has been impacted as well, with the French Caribbean island of Martinique forced to temporarily close as a result of the seaweed. "The biggest impact for most people is the economic impact of tourism," Lapointe said. "...When they get piled high with rotting sargassum, that's that's a non-starter for tourists." While large inundations of sargassum can have a severe negative impact on a particular coastline, the majority of the biomass is expected to stay offshore, where it is a natural and beneficial habitat, Barnes told ABC News. "Typically, at sea, we consider Sargassum to be a very positive thing," Lapointe said. "It provides habitat for hundreds of species of fishes and invertebrates, including endangered species like sea turtles." MORE: Scientists baffled over hundreds of fish 'spinning and whirling' dead onto South Florida shores The situation of excess sargassum will likely get worse, Rosen said, adding that ocean current and wind are the key factors in determining how severe the impact in the southern U.S. will be. In previous years, June continued to see increases of sargassum in most regions, according to the USF report. More sargassum is expected to be transported to the western Caribbean Sea before reaching the Gulf through the Yucatan Peninsula. Small to moderate amounts of sargassum are expected along the Florida Keys and the state's southeast coast, according to the USF report. Researchers began to see an uptick in sargassum impacts in Florida in 2014, Lapointe said. As recently as 2023, southeastern Florida was impacted by sargassum blooms, Rosen said. Beaches in Florida, such as the Keys and Miami-Dade County, have had to include sargassum cleanups as part of their municipal budgets, Lapointe said. "We have not seen catastrophic impacts that the Caribbean has seen, but this year could be different, and this is what we're bracing for right now," he said.
