Seaweed Farming

• Seaweed farming = cultivation of marine macroalgae (red, green, brown) for food, hydrocolloids (agar, carrageenan, alginate), biofertilisers, biostimulants, pharma and biofuel feedstock.
• India's 11,099 km coastline offers vast mariculture potential; flagged as a sunrise sector under the Blue Economy push and PMMSY.
• Relevant for GS-III (agriculture, fisheries, environment) and GS-I (geography of coastal resources).