Seaweed Farming Initiative Supports Coastal Livelihoods and Climate Resilience in Maharashtra

Raigad, March 26, 2026: Coastal communities in Maharashtra’s Raigad district are adopting seaweed farming as an alternative livelihood, as declining fish catches and climate-related disruptions continue to impact traditional fishing practices.

The initiative, supported by DP World through its Marine Services business, Shipping Solutions AMEA, is being implemented in partnership with Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change and ClimaCrew. Over 250 seaweed cultivation units have been established along the coast, offering fishing families a supplementary and sustainable income source.

Seaweed farming requires no land or freshwater and can be harvested multiple times in a season, making it a viable option for coastal communities. The cultivation units also function as marine biofilters, improving water quality and creating habitats for marine species such as prawns, crabs, and small fish.

Currently, the farms produce around 20–25 tonnes of wet seaweed biomass per cycle, with the potential to scale up to 50–75 tonnes as participation increases. The initiative also involves monitoring water quality and biodiversity to assess environmental benefits.

The programme actively engages fisher families and women-led self-help groups, enabling livelihood diversification while maintaining a connection to the marine ecosystem.

CM Muraleedharan, Regional Director – India, Shipping Solutions AMEA – Marine Services, DP World, said: “Seaweed farming offers coastal communities a resilient livelihood in the face of climate change. When communities are supported with sustainable solutions, they can build economic security while contributing to the longterm health of their marine environment. This reflects our strategic commitment to sustainability, where community resilience and ecosystem health are fundamental to how we deliver lasting impact.”

Myron Mendes, Executive Director of Indian Network on Ethics and Climate Change, said: "For coastal communities, climate change is not an abstract conversation. It is something they experience every day through declining fish catch, unpredictable seasons, and growing uncertainty in livelihoods. Seaweed farming offers an important pathway that strengthens incomes while also supporting the health of our oceans. When communities themselves lead these solutions, we begin to see what real climate resilience looks like."

Devleena Bhattacharjee, Chief Operating Officer of ClimaCrew, said: “Seaweed is one of the few bio-resources that can be truly sustainable end-to-end, grown without land or freshwater, converted into high-value products, completely compostable, and degradable. It’s people, planet, and profit in one system. Fisherfolk incomes have shrunk under climate and human pressures, seaweed farming is one of the fastest local livelihood upgrade, preventing climate migration to nearby cities.”

Seaweed cultivation is increasingly recognised as part of the emerging blue economy, offering a low-impact livelihood that supports both climate adaptation and marine ecosystem restoration. The initiative highlights how nature-based solutions can help coastal communities build resilience while contributing to environmental sustainability.