Seaweeds grow abundantly along the Indian coast. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands coast are rich seaweed beds. Out of approximately 700 species of marine algae found in both inter-tidal and deep water regions of the Indian coast, nearly 60 species are commercially important.

Compare with global market growth in seaweed sector, India is much behind with negligible production and stand at 21st position globally. Seaweed farming of Kappaphycus species has grown significantly in the Philippines and Indonesia over the last two decades, with growth also taking place at a smaller scale in India.

Indian government is boosting seaweed sector and has allocated ₹637 crore for the cultivation of these nutrition-rich marine plants, as part of the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana—to be spent over the next five years, mainly as subsidy support.