SEAWEED IN TAMILNADU The Southeast Indian State of Tamil Nadu’s coastline is 1076 km long with 14 coastal districts and 15 major ports and harbours. The convergence of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean at India’s southern tip is the unique feature of this coast. Distinct variations are seen in the nature of substratum in the intertidal and subtidal regions. The northern coastal area has long and wide sandy beaches intermittently populated with flat rocks, boulders and stones in the lower and upper intertidal regions, experiencing severe surf energy. Species belonging to the genera Ulva, Chaetomorpha, Bryopsis and Grateloupia inhabit the rocks and boulders. The central Tamil Nadu coast includes Palk Bay, which falls within the Cauvery deltaic region. The region’s muddy intertidal and subtidal coast is due to the confluence of many rivers flowing to the sea. Several species of Gracilaria, including G. edulis, G. foliifera, G. verrucosa and G. salicornia are dominant and commercially harvested in this region. The Gulf of Mannar, located in the southern part of Tamil Nadu, has a rich diversity from all three seaweed groups. Intertidal and subtidal rocks