01-05 December 2025
INCOIS, Hyderabad, India.
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-07-0013 |
| Title of Abstract | Remote Sensing and GIS-Based Site Suitability Mapping for Seaweed Farming in the Indian EEZ. |
| Authors | Sandra M P*, Nagaraja Kumar M , Nimit Kumar, Subham Subhash Pole, Balakrishnan Nair T. M |
| Organisation | Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) |
| Address | FLAT NUMBER 102, NIDHI NILAYAM, PRAGATHI NAGAR HYDERABAD, Telangana, India Pincode: 500090 E-mail: mp.sandra-p@incois.gov.in |
| Country | India |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Blue economy envisages the potential and sustainable use of marine resources for the improvement of the livelihood as well as the conservation and restoration of the marine ecosystem. Seaweeds, marine macro algae, are crucial for Sustainable development and are considered as the Nutritional Powerhouse from the ocean. They are vital sources of food and ecosystem services, fostering economic stability through various means (e.g., employment) and a connection between humans and the environment. They support other marine habitats (which include marine flora and fauna) and act as a carbon sink also. In India several seaweed natural hotspots were identified. Along the coast of India, seaweed culture practices are also promoted due to its economic, cultural as well as commercial value. So, there is a significant obligation for conserving the natural seaweed bed due to its increasing demand and it should equally balance the cultivation strategies also. One such initiative is the mapping of the site suitability of seaweed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) enabled Satellite Remote Sensing. This study identified potential seaweed cultivation zones along the Indian coast by remotely sensing environmental parameters like Sea Surface Temperature (SST), Sea Surface Salinity (SSS), Dissolved Oxygen, Water clarity, pH, Chlorophyll (CHL), Nutrients (Phosphate & Nitrate), Wind, Wave, Depth, etc. A weighted overlay analysis was done to classify regions as Highly, Moderately, or Not Suitable based on the optimal range of these environmental parameters required for the seaweed growth. The present study resulted the mapping of Suitable Seaweed growing areas along the coasts of India on March 2022, March and May 2023. GIS study versus validation with literature survey found High and Moderate zones from Gujarat (2), Maharashtra (4), Karnataka (3), Kerala (2), Tamil Nadu South (6), Tamil Nadu North (3), Andhra Pradesh South (4) and Andhra Pradesh North (2) respectively. |
| Are you part of IIOE-2 endorsed project | no |
| Keywords | Blue Economy, Marine Ecosystem, Seaweed, Sustainable development, Site suitability, GIS, Satellite Remote Sensing, Environmental parameters. |
| For Awards | yes |
| Date Of Birth | 23-03-1997 |
| ECSN Registration Number | IIOE2-ECSN-0107 |