Review on resources, cultivation andutilisation of marine macroalgae inIndia

Marine macro algae, popularly known as seaweeds belong to non-flowering plants and inhabit the marine ecosystem. These autotrophic plants are commonly found in intertidal as well as in the subtidal regions of the sea. Based on morphology, cellwall and pigment composition, they are classified into green (Chlorophyceae), red (Rhodophyceae) and brown (Phaeophyceae) algae (Chapman, 1970). In India, certain coastal pockets of the peninsular coast comprising nine maritime states and Andaman-Nicobar as well as the Laccadive Archipelago harbour dense beds of these marine algae that can be exploited for commercial purposes. More than 10,000 species of marine algae have been reported from all over the world.