The Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), in association with SNAP Natural and Alginate Products, Ranipet, on Thursday organised a seaweed farmers/collectors interaction meet on its premises to commemorate International Seaweed Day (June 4).The day marks the launch of the Seaweed Manifesto, a collaborative U.N.-backed initiative that is dedicated to highlighting seaweed’s critical role in ensuring food security, mitigating climate change and restoring marine ecosystems.A total of 584 seaweed farmers/collectors from Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai districts participated in the meeting. The programme was inaugurated by Akhil Thampi, Wildlife Warden and Director, GoMBRT, Ramanathapuram. M. Chinnakuppan, Deputy Director (Fisheries); K. Padmakumar, Director, Centre for Marine Biodiversity, Department of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries, University of Kerala, Kariavattom; V. Veeragurunathan, Principal Scientist and Scientist-in-Charge, CSIR-CSMCRI-Marine Algal Research Station, Mandapam Camp; and others addressed the participants.They shared their views on issues and challenges in seaweed collection and farming. The seaweed farmers also expressed their views and put forth their queries during the interaction session, which was addressed by the panel experts.A poster on seaweed prepared by R. Saravanan, Senior Scientist, Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI, was released on the occasion. Highlights of seaweed-based products recently developed by ICAR-CMFRI were given by Ashish Khandelwal, Senior Scientist, ICAR-CMFRI, Kochi. The event was presided over by K. Vinod, Principal Scientist and Head, Mandapam Regional Centre of ICAR-CMFRI, B. Johnson, Senior Scientist, welcomed the gathering and M. Sankar proposed a vote of thanks. Published - June 04, 2026 08:24 pm IST