Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi Visits Mandapam Seaweed Cultivation Site

Dr. Abhilaksh Likhi, Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAH&D), Government of India, visited the seaweed cultivation site at Munnaikadu, Mandapam Camp, Tamil Nadu, and interacted with seaweed farmers associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The visit was undertaken as part of the Department’s efforts to promote seaweed farming, strengthen coastal livelihoods, and accelerate the development of the seaweed value chain in the country.

A day earlier, Dr. Likhi had chaired a meeting on seaweed farming at the ICAR-CMFRI Regional Centre, Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, to review the progress of seaweed cultivation initiatives and discuss measures for scaling up production, value addition, and market linkages in the sector.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Surabhi Rai, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries); Smt. Gunjan Krishna, Joint Secretary (Inland Fisheries), Department of Fisheries, Government of India; Dr. J. K. Jena, Deputy Director General (Fisheries Science), ICAR; Dr. Bijay Kumar Behera, Chief Executive, National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB); and officials from the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, and State Fisheries Departments through hybrid mode. (UPDATED ON 13TH OCTOBER 2026)