Draped In Sarees, Diving Deep: Inside The Lives Of Tamil Nadu’s Seaweed Collectors

Early each morning along the southeastern coast of Tamil Nadu, boats carry women from Ramanathapuram into the Gulf of Mannar. They are not headed out to fish, but to gather seaweed that clings to rocks beneath the surface. For decades, seaweed collection has been a quiet but vital livelihood for these coastal communities, one that now stands at the intersection of livelihood, ecology, and conservation.

The Gulf of Mannar- A Unique Biodiverse Marine Region

The Gulf of Mannar in India is not a random coastline but one of the most remarkable marine ecosystem regions. It was declared a Marine National Park in 1986 and a Biosphere Reserve later.

It extended over 10,500 square kilometers that made it one of the largest marine protected regions in South and Southeast Asia.

Besides offering the means of livelihood to the coastal communities, the region includes 21 islands, coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves that serve as a habitat for diverse species of animals such as dugongs, dolphins and sea turtles.

A Tradition Led by Women

The collection of seaweed in this region has traditionally been the preserve of women, originating from fishing communities. They dive repeatedly into shallow bays, taking three to four hours at a time to peel off the seaweed from rocks and coral cracks below.

After collection, the seaweed is transported to land where it is spread out to dry in the sun before being sold to consumers. It is referred to as 'pasi' in Tamil.

This seaweed collection has traditionally been a low-key supplement to household income, particularly when the fishing season is slow or banned. It provides a consistent financial element when fish catches fluctuate according to weather patterns or restrictions and regulations.

It is physically demanding, but it has also provided women with a dominant financial role in their households.

Challenges & Controversies

As climate pressures intensified and concerns over coral reef degradation grew, conservation regulations tightened within the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park.

Restrictions on resource extraction in protected zones limited traditional wild seaweed harvesting, prompting many coastal communities to shift toward structured cultivation in designated buffer areas rather than core conservation zones.

Seaweed farming has come up as an alternative source of livelihood for people in Ramanathapuram, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Nagercoil. In Rameswaram alone, over 1,000 families in 126 villages cultivate 'Kappaphycus.'

However, cultivation in the Gulf of Mannar has also generated debate, particularly over Kappaphycus alvarezii, an introduced species farmed for carrageenan, widely used in food and industrial products.

Environmental groups and marine researchers have raised concerns about its potential ecological impact, including the risk of displacing native seaweed species or affecting coral reef systems.

The farming method typically involves tying fragments of seaweed to ropes or bamboo rafts suspended in shallow coastal waters. After approximately 45 days, the crop is harvested, sun-dried, and sold to processing companies.

Economic Value and Expanding Markets

Along Tamil Nadu’s coast, seaweed harvested feeds into a growing market where more than 17 different products are derived from it, which include ingredients used in food processing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fertilisers and industrial applications.

Cultivation offers regular harvest cycles and relatively predictable income compared to traditional fishing with increasing global demand for seaweed. It acts as a supplementary livelihood rather than a replacement for many fishermen, which reduces the economic vulnerability.

Sea-weed cultivation also aligns with broader discussions around the 'blue economy' which promotes sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth is the most important.

Finding a Balance

What is happening in the Gulf of Mannar is not just a conflict over seaweed but a struggle between preserving the environment and the people who depend on it for their livelihood.

It is important to preserve the coral reefs, the seagrass and the endangered species, but some people depend on the sea for their daily bread and removing their way of life without giving them good alternatives, and a conflict is almost inevitable.

Seaweed farming is right at the centre of this conflict as it provides economic opportunities for the people but it also raises concerns about its impact on the environment.

A Future Shaped by the Sea

At the southern tip of India, the sea is still the guiding star of everyday life. For the women who get up before dawn to harvest or tend the floating farms, the seaweed is not just a sea plant, but is a means of living, a source of dignity and a source of continuity.

As policymakers, environmentalists and people along the coast look to the future, the task is clear: how to protect the Gulf of Mannar’s unique biodiversity while ensuring that the generations who have lived along its shores are able to continue doing so.