Seaweeds collection helps these fisherwomen to weed out poverty

Seaweeds or marine algae that occur naturally have high industrial uses. They also feed many families in the fishing hamlets which have lost their men, who were the sole breadwinners. The seaweeds are used in food processing industries in the form of agar and they are naturally consumed in several southeast Asian countries. 

As they are rich in minerals and vitamins they are added as supplements in various food items. As seaweeds are found naturally along the Gulf of Mannar region, women attached to fishing community from various places in Ramanathapuram district such as Keelakarai, Erwadi, Rameswaram and Pamban are involved in collecting them and selling to companies. 

For a kilogram of seaweed, the women get up to Rs 20. Their earnings also depend on the boat in which they travel.  As many as 3,000 women in Ramanathapuram district are involved in collecting seaweeds, said Selvam from Mandapam. She had lost her husband Dharmaraj in an accident. 

“We go along with the fishermen in the boats and collect seaweeds,” she explained. “On an average, we could earn up to Rs 500 and if the catch is good, we could easily make close to Rs 1,000,” elaborated Selvam. 

Though the earnings are meagre from the collection of seaweeds, it has helped the families to tide over many a crisis. “I have managed to marry off my two daughters by collecting seaweeds,” recalled Selvam.  

Mareeswari, another fisherwoman, said that there is no support for the women from the government. She has lost her husband Nambirajan and has been involved in selling seaweeds for a livelihood. 

“We sell it to individuals who take the seaweeds to Madurai and make huge profits. If the government intervenes and fixes a fair price for the product, we could get a constant revenue,” she appealed.

Lakshmi from Chinnapalam coastal village in Pamban is not just one of the seaweed collectors but she also leads a group of women in her village and making their livelihood better. In 2015, Lakshmi was selected by the US-based Seacology, an NGO, for conserving nature and the cultural traditions of her fishing hamlet by helping women in collecting seaweeds.  

Speaking to DTNext, Lakshmi said that the seaweeds are naturally occurring. “There is no harm to the environment if they are collected as the algae will die automatically, if not harvested.”  She further said that the seaweeds are collected only for 12 days in a month, six days after new moon and six days after full moon. 

“The restriction allows the seaweeds to grow back,” she explained. “My husband Moorthy, a fisherman, has been ailing for nearly 12 years. He has stopped fishing. I am managing the entire family by collecting seaweeds,” Lakshmi said. “Likewise, I started encouraging the women to take up this job and help them to run their families,” she added.