Full Text
REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
The Gazette of India
CG-DL-E-28072025-265024
EXTRAORDINARY
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (ii)
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
No. 3381]
NEW DELHI, FRIDAY, JULY 25, 2025/SHRAVANA 3, 1947
MINISTRY OF FISHERIES, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND DAIRYING
(Department of Fisheries)
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 24th July, 2025
S.O. 3458(E). In pursuance of the provisions of section 3 of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005
(24 of 2005), read with clause (1) of rule 3 of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Rules, 2024 (hereinafter referred to as
the said rules), the Central Government hereby makes the following guidelines for regulating seaweed seedling
production and farming in marine and brackish water, namely:-
1. Short title and commencement.- (1) These guidelines may be called the Guidelines for Regulating Seaweed
Seedling Production and Farming in Marine and Brackish water, 2025.
(2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. Criteria and procedure for registration of seaweed seedlings production units.- (1) Seaweed seedlings
production units engaged or intending to be engaged in seed production of marine and brackish water seaweed
spores and seedlings under controlled conditions having the required biosecurity facilities and in-house quarantine
facility as specified by the Coastal Aquaculture Authority shall be eligible to apply for registration.
(2) The seedlings production unit operator shall submit an application in Form-II of the said rules to the Authority
along with documents as specified in the Schedule II of the said rules.
(3) A detailed project report indicating the infrastructure, production capacity, technology support, employment
generation and the cost of operation shall be submitted along with the application.
(4) Approval of the seedlings production unit for production of marine and brackish water seaweed seeds or spores
or seedlings shall be given by the Authority after due inspection of the facilities by a team constituted by the
Authority for this purpose in accordance with rule 11 of the said rules.
3. Sanitary requirement - (1) Entry to the seaweed spore or seedling production unit shall be restricted to the
personnel assigned to work exclusively in this area and a record of personnel entering the facility shall be
maintained by the security personnel.
(2) Any person including the staff entering the unit shall strictly adhere to the biosecurity protocols or the standard
operating procedures laid down for the day to day operations of the unit.
(3) A provision shall be made for disinfection of vehicle tyres (tyre baths at the gate with > 100 ppm of active
ingredients Sodium/calcium hypochlorite solution), feet (foot baths containing 50 ppm of Potassium permanganate/
20 ppm of hypochlorite solution) and hands [bottles containing iodine-PVP (20 ppm and / or 70% alcohol)] to be
used upon entering and exiting the unit.
(4) All the cleaning chemicals, sanitary chemicals and other inputs materials shall be stored separately with proper
labelling outside the production area.
(5) Hatchery surrounding shall be maintained hygienically throughout the production cycle without any
accumulation of waste materials.
4. Water intake.- (1) Seaweed spore or seedling production unit shall have independent water treatment facility
isolated from all other water supply systems and separate recirculation systems may be used for each spore,
seedlings or saplings production to improve biosecurity especially in high-risk areas.
(2) Water for the Seaweed spore or seedling production unit shall be filtered and treated to prevent the entry of
vectors and pathogens that may be present in the source water by initial filtering through sub-sand well points, sand
filters (gravity or pressure) or mesh bag filters into the first reservoir or settling tank.
(3) After primary disinfection by chlorination or ozonation or such other appropriate disinfectants and after
settlement, the water shall be filtered again with a finer filter and then disinfected using ultraviolet light or ozone.
(4) The water supply system may include use of activated carbon filters, the addition of ethylene diamine tetra
acetic acid and temperature and salinity regulation.
5. Water treatment and discharge of wastewater.- (1) The seawater to be used in the facility shall be delivered into
a storage tank where it may be treated with hypochlorite solution (not less than 10 ppm active ingredient for not
less than thirty minutes) followed by sodium thiosulphate (1 ppm for every ppm of residual chlorine) or ozonation
and strong aeration.
(2) The discharged water from the seaweed spore or seedling production unit shall be held temporarily and treated
with hypochlorite solution (not less than 10 ppm active chlorine for not less than sixty minutes) or ozonation or
other effective disinfectant prior to discharge.
6. Seaweed spore or seedling production unit.- (1) Seaweed spore or sapling production units may be established
close to the areas where large scale commercial cultivation of seaweeds are done to avoid long distance
transportation by the farmers.
(2) Seaweed spore or seedling production units shall ensure that seeds are free from contaminants and pests and
have a high germination rate for obtaining healthy seedlings.
(3) These units supplying seed material shall be free from diseases for the last three months from the date of
collection.
(4) Seaweed spores or seedlings may be produced through tissue culture techniques or any other appropriate
methods in consultation with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
or other Government institutions or Government approved organisations having the required technology.
(5) Spore or seedling production units shall supply seedlings that are uniform in size, shape and colour to promote
consistent growth and crop health.
(6) Seaweed spore or seedling production units shall use seed material that has not yet entered into reproductive
stage.
(7) Seaweed seedling production unit shall have fibre reinforced plastic or polypropylene or cement tanks or glass
tanks for spore production, seedling rearing, biosecured pure stock and culture maintenance section.
(8) The seaweed seedling production units shall have water filtration units, water supply and storage tanks and
packing area for the nurseries to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality seaweed seedlings.
(9) The seaweed spore or seedling production unit perimeter shall be secured with fencing to deter entry of animals
and unauthorised persons.
7. Disinfection of implements.- (1) Containers and hoses that are used shall be washed and disinfected with
hypochlorite solution (20 ppm) before further use.
(2) Each seaweed spore or seedling production section of a unit shall have a separate set of implements which shall
be clearly marked and placed in the sections and all the implements shall be disinfected after use at the end of each
day.
8. Parent seaweed stock collection and in house quarantine facility for imported spores or seedling of mature
plants.- (1) Young plants of appropriate size, having no deformities or nutritional deficiencies may be procured or
collected from the wild or farmer's pond or other seedlings rearing units for use as a parental stock in the unit.
(2) The young seaweed planting materials shall have more apical tips for faster growth and spore production.
(3) Parent stock of seaweed seed, sapling or mature plant may be transported to the facility with adequate aeration
and appropriate packing and transportation means.
(4) Record on the traceability of the source of these stocks shall be maintained.
(5) The seaweed spore or seedling production unit shall establish a proper and fully bio-secured quarantine facility
for holding the imported spores or seedlings or mature plants.
(6) Import of such materials shall be done in accordance with the rules and the guidelines laid by the Central
Government for the said purpose.
(7) Water discharged from the quarantine facility shall be treated separately before its release into the effluent
treatment system.
9. Standard operating procedure for in-house quarantine facility.- (1) Vehicle shall pass through tyre bath at
the hatchery premises before reaching the receiving point.
(2) The entire consignment shall be unloaded at the in-house quarantine facility and all the personnel
involved in unloading shall disinfect their hands, apron, coat and shoes before and after unloading.
(3) The quarantine tanks shall have adequate space for movement of spores, seedlings or mature plants
and shall be maintained under optimal water quality parameters.
(4) During quarantine period, spores, seedlings or mature plants samples shall be collected for screening
of pathogens by following the guidelines for import of live seaweed into India notified by the
Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India
(F. No. j-1503529/5/2024-DOF(E-24345), dated the 21st October, 2024).
(5) The sample shall be referred to the plant quarantine analytical laboratory or National Accreditation
Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories-accredited or Indian Council of Agricultural Research
or Council of Scientific and Industrial Research or Government laboratories for testing of pathogens
of concern to India.
(6) Based on the test report of the sample, the quarantined spores, seedlings or mature plants shall be
shifted to the unit after the quarantine period if no pathogen is detected.
(7) In the event of detection of any relevant pathogen, the sample shall be sent to Indian Council of
Agricultural Research or Council of Scientific and Industrial Research or Government laboratories
or to any approved laboratory notified by the Central Government for validation or confirmation.
(8) In case of confirmation, the unit operator shall destroy the entire infected stock and incinerate for
containment of the spread of the infection under intimation to the Authority.
10. Maintenance of spores, seedlings or mature plants.- Imported or locally procured spores, seedlings or mature
plants may be shifted from the quarantine facility to the parental stock holding facility and shall be maintained
under appropriate photo thermal controls and nutritional supplements.
11. Management chemical agents and nutrients.- (1) Seaweed spores or seedlings production units shall use
approved inputs in the spore or seedling production cycles.
(2) Prohibited pharmacologically active substances and antimicrobial agents shall not be used in the production
system.
12. Seaweed seed banks.- (1) Procuring the spores or seedlings from the approved spores or seedlings production
unit or seaweed seed banks may be established for growth of the seed material until supply to the seaweed
farmers.
(2) The seaweed seed banks shall be established by the units or individuals near the seaweed farming sites in
ponds, creeks, backwaters and coastal waters.
(3) The seaweed seed banks shall get the rearing sites, such as, open brackish water bodies and coastal waters,
by applying to the Central Government or the State Government or any organisation or local body authorised by
the Government.
(4) The sites suitable for establishing seaweed seed bank may be allotted to the individual, self help groups, joint
liability groups, fish farmer producer organisations, societies, farmers, entrepreneurs or technocrats with specific
geo-coordinates or geo-fencing to enable the authority to consider such allotted sites for registration for seaweed
seed bank units.
(5) The seaweed seed bank with appropriate cultivation methods may be taken up in the allotted sites in
consultation with Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research or other
Central institutes by assessing the techno economic viability by the individual, self-help groups, joint liability
groups, fish farmer producer organisations, societies, farmers, entrepreneurs or technocrats.
13. Packing and transport.- Appropriate packing methods for spores or seedlings or mature plants shall be used
without affecting the growth of the plant material.
14. Disease reporting and record maintenance.- (1) Any disease outbreak in the spores or seedlings production
unit shall be reported immediately to the Authority.
(2) The unit operator shall maintain day to day records of the operations and this record shall contain all the
activities including parent stock details, chemical usage, pathogen test results, water quality reports, record of
spore or seedling production, stock, sale data including farmer's details and report these in their quarterly
compliance report to be submitted to the Authority in Form L-1 of these guidelines.
15. Inspection.- A person authorised by the Authority shall periodically visit and check the status of the seaweed
spores or seedling production unit.
16. Bank guarantee.- The approved unit shall pay rupees fifty thousand towards monitoring fee and deposit a bank
guarantee of rupees fifty thousand in favour of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority in accordance with the said
rules, to ensure compliance with these guidelines and in the event of any violation, the bank guarantee shall be
invoked.
17. Eligibility criteria for registration of seaweed culture units.- (1) Application for registration of seaweed
culture units shall be made in accordance with rule 9 of the said rules.
(2) The inspection team authorised by the Authority shall inspect the farm in accordance with rule 10 of the said
Rules and based on its recommendations regarding the suitability of the farm for farming of seaweed, applications
shall be processed by the Secretary of the Authority for registering the units for seaweed farming.
(3) Farms shall establish adequate biosecurity measures to avoid infestation of fouling and boring organisms and
entry of herbivores or browsers and shall be managed by personnel who are trained or experienced in seaweed
farming.
18. Seaweeds farming.- (1) The potential species for culture shall include-
(a) seaweed species suitable for cultivation in marine and brackish water includes Kappaphycus
alvarezii, Gracilaria salicornia, Gracilaria crassa, Gracilaria verrucosa, Agarophyton
tenuistipitatum, Gracilaria edulis, Gracilaria dura, Gracilaria debilis, Hypnea musciformis,
Gelidiella acerosa, Ulva lactuca, Ulva intestinalis and Caulerpa species or any other species
permitted by the Central Government; and
(b) seaweed with other amenable aquatic species shall also be permitted as a co-culture or
integrated multi trophic aquaculture.
(2) The suitable sites for seaweed farming in creeks, backwaters and open coastal waters shall be identified by
Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and other authorised
Government institutions and seaweed farming shall be promoted in such identified locations only.
(3) Sites with good tidal amplitude, clear sandy or clay bottoms devoid of silt and muddy areas shall be selected
for seaweed farming.
(4) The Central Government, any State Government or any organisations or local body authorised by the
Government may allocate suitable sites to the individual, self help groups, joint liability groups, fish farmer
producer organisations, societies, farmers, entrepreneurs or technocrats with specific geo-coordinates or geo-
fencing to enable the authority to consider such allotted sites for registration for seaweed farming.
(5) The seaweed farming with appropriate cultivation methods such as off-bottom cultivation, raft or floating
methods, tube net, mono line and longline methods may be taken up in the Government allotted sites in
consultation with institutes under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research or Council of Scientific and
Industrial Research or other central institutes by assessing the techno-economic viability by the individual or
communal farmers or entrepreneurs.
(6) Adequate road connectivity to the farming site for transporting seeds and harvested seaweed shall be
ensured.
(7) Land-based cultivation in tanks, ponds, and raceways shall be adopted for edible seaweeds for better control
over quality and to avoid toxic impurities.
(8) To minimize conflict of interest along the coastline, seaweed farming shall be taken up in sites away from
existing commercial shipping and navigational lanes, areas designated for fishing, ports and harbours, restricted
defence sensitive areas, wave or tidal energy projects, pipelines, recreational activities, ecologically sensitive
areas, etc.
(9) Seaweed farming site shall have a minimum depth of 1.2 metres during low tide to avoid temperature shock
and similar depth shall also be maintained for pond based farming.
(10) The sites having high inflow of freshwater and effluent discharge points shall be avoided.
(11) Physical environmental factors such as water currents, wave action, shelter from storms, and tidal exposure
shall be accounted for as they not only influence the growth but may also impact the design and engineering
of the structures used in seaweed culture.
(12) The optimum range of water quality parameters suitable for seaweed farming shall be as specified in the
table below, namely:-
Table
+---------+----------------------------+----------------+
| Sl. No. | Parameters | Optimum range |
+---------+----------------------------+----------------+
| (1) | (2) | (3) |
+---------+----------------------------+----------------+
| 1. | pH | 7.5-8.5 |
| 2. | DO (mg/L) | >5 |
| 3. | Salinity (ppt) | 15-35 |
| 4. | Water temperature (°C) | 25-31 |
| 5. | NO2 (mg/L) | < 0.2 |
| 6. | Unionized Ammonia (mg/L) | < 0.1 |
+---------+----------------------------+----------------+
(13) The optimum range of environmental criteria for seaweed farming shall be as specified in the table below,
namely:-
Table
+-------+---------------------+----------------+
| S. No | Parameters | Optimum range |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+
| (1) | (2) | (3) |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+
| 1. | Wind speed (m/s) | 1-3 |
| 2. | Water depth (m) | 0.6-1.5 |
| 3. | Water current (m/s) | 0.10-0.30 |
+-------+---------------------+----------------+
(14) The seed material shall ideally come through dedicated hatcheries or seed production centres which
maintain elite germplasm and seed development facilities.
(15) Seedlings shall be taken from healthy stock and free from animal attachment and epiphytes, preferably
from the young portion of the plant with more apical portions.
(16) If seedlings are taken from other districts or states, it shall be placed in a clean net or jute bags and kept at
bottom (1-2 m depth) of the sea or brackish water for few days before planting for acclimatisation.
(17) Seaweed seeds material shall have superior genetics for fast growth, high yield, disease resistance and
environmental adaptability.
(18) Seedlings developed through tissue or spore culture under controlled conditions shall be preferable than
the vegetative propagation stock.
(19) Seaweed farming shall be undertaken by the following methods, namely:-
(a) longline or rope culture:-
(i) in longline or rope culture method, seaweed seedlings with an initial stocking density of 20-
50g shall be typically attached at intervals of 10 to 15 cm along the length of the rope and
the exact spacing and seed material quantity shall vary depending on seaweed species,
growth conditions and farming location;
(ii) polypropylene monoline ropes of appropriate thickness tied at both ends of the posts,
positioned parallel to each other with adequate floats shall be used;
(iii) spacing between the seedlings shall be adequate to allow the growth of the seed material;
(iv) fencing net with appropriate mesh size shall be fixed at the periphery of the culture unit to
protect the seaweeds from grazing by herbivorous and other organisms.
(b) raft culture:-
(i) seaweed may be fastened onto ropes or monoline tube nets attached within floating rafts;
(ii) primary frame of the raft shall be made with any suitable material made of wood, Polyvinyl
Chloride or High-Density Polyethylene;
(iii) primary frame shall be of adequate size to produce sufficient quantity of seaweeds based on
the availability of space in the cultivation location and feasibility for handling;
(iv) high-density polyethylene fishing net with appropriate mesh size shall be fixed at the bottom
of the raft to protect the seaweeds from grazing by herbivorous and other organisms.
(c) tube net culture:-
(i) tube net cultivation of seaweeds shall be taken up with cylindrical mesh tubes with a minimum
mesh diameter of 25 mm and above, secured with polypropylene rope of appropriate thickness;
(ii) tube nets shall be placed horizontally or vertically to provide buoyancy with anchoring and
floats.;
(iii) cultivation tubes nets shall be adequately provided with appropriate net of suitable mesh size
at periphery to protect from grazing organisms.
(d) Any other suitable and approved methods such as off-bottom methods may also be adopted
for seaweed farming.
19. Monitoring or maintenance.- (1) Epiphytic growth and sediments attached to seaweeds, fouling organisms
on ropes, net tubes and frames shall be removed at periodic intervals.
(2) Broken and drifted plants or discarded or unusable bamboo poles, ropes, braiders, nets etc. shall be removed
from the farming site from time to time.
(3) All unhealthy and loose plants shall be removed entirely and shall be replaced with fresh stock to maintain
desired density and to get optimal productivity.
(4) Growth and health parameters shall be monitored periodically.
(5) Prohibited Pharmacologically active substances and antimicrobial agents shall not be used in the seaweed
farming.
20. Harvesting and drying.- (1) Harvesting of seaweed may be carried out within a span of 30 to 45 days of the
farming duration based on the species cultivated.
(2) Tube nets or ropes ready for harvest shall be removed from the raft or monoline and transported to the shore
for harvesting.
(3) Harvesting shall be done by handpicking or using appropriate equipment and in case of tube net, seaweed
outgrowth shall be cut or plucked from the tube net retaining sufficient seaweed biomass as seed inside the
tube net for subsequent farming.
(4) Drying seaweed on elevated drying platforms or on tarpaulin sheets shall be carried out for faster drying
and yielding quality produce without extraneous materials like sand, stones, dirt etc.
(5) During this drying process, impurities like stones, shells, and other foreign matter shall be removed.
(6) To shield against moisture during rainy seasons, harvested and dried seaweed shall be covered with
tarpaulin sheets.
(7) Once dried, the seaweed shall be carefully packed in sacks and stored in a clean, dry place.
21. Storage of seaweed seedlings in the offseason.- (1) During crop holidays, monsoons and unfavourable
weather, seeds shall be stored in a clean net bag and placed at the bottom in 1-2m deep areas, preferably in the
sandy bottom, strongly anchored or tied to fixed structures in the coastal waters preferably in protected bays.
(2) Seaweed seed material shall also be stored in land-based seawater tanks or ponds if available with adequate
good water quality suitable for seaweed.
22. Record maintenance.- (1) Record on source of seed material, stocking quantity, culture duration, materials
used, harvested quantity and buyer details shall be maintained by the farmers for traceability purposes.
(2) The farmer shall produce the farm records on demand by the authorised personnel.
Form L-1
[See paragraph 13 (2)]
(The quarterly compliance report from hatcheries)
The compliance report shall contain the following information, namely:-
1. Name and Address of the hatchery;
2. Date and number of certificate of registration and permission ;
3. Name of the species of seedling produced;
4. Details of parent stock of seaweed seed, sapling or mature plant procured;
5. Source of parent stock of seaweed seed, sapling or mature plant;
6. Transport mortality;
7. Quarantine mortality;
8. Total number of seaweed seeds, spores or seedlings;
9. Report on general aquatic health monitoring and any unusual mortality;
10. Total number of seaweed seeds, spores or seedlings sold to the farmers;
11. Details of the farmers to whom sold (shall include information about the name, address, registration number) and
copy of the registration certificate for culturing seaweed issued by Coastal Aquaculture Authority.
Place:
Date:
Signature
Name of the authorised signatory
[F. No. j-1903336/2/2024-DOF (E-23648)]
NEETU KUMARI PRASAD, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.
AMIT KUMAR
JAISWAL
Digitally signed by AMIT KUMAR JAISWAL
Date: 2025.07.28 15:53:39 +05'30'