Along the shores of India’s coastal village, Mayakulam, women in saris dive into the rough sea. Wearing only locally-made goggles and flimsy plastic slippers and gloves, they are harvesting seaweed. Their days begin at 5 am. The labor is hard often involving 6-hour stints in the water at a time. And, their work yields very little in terms of earning a living wage. On average their efforts pay about 300-500 rupees which is roughly $4- $6.70 per day. That is a stark contrast to the estimated $26 billion that the seaweed market is estimated to be worth by 2025. Hailed as an eco-miracle, demand for the plant has risen. Yet, as companies champion its eco benefits, what are the lives like for the women who harvest the plant?
In areas like Tamil Nadu state there are an estimated 2,000 female divers who endure the harsh conditions of the sea to dive for seaweed. Expensive equipment or even bandages are economical impossible to come by. And, some expeditions can see them leave their families for up to 5 days at a time. Yet, for these women, many of whom are inter-generational sea divers, this line of work is all that they know and the only way to ensure that food is put onto the table. “My earnings may be meager, but it has helped me raise a big family, educate my four kids and marry off two daughters,” Ravi, a 37-year old diver told a reporter.
Challenges At Sea
The culture around seaweed diving is one of both economic independence and hardship. There are many challenges that these women face. For one, seaweed can grow close to sharp rocks and coral and the women are often diving with little protective gear. Another, is the looming fear of fines in regions where the sea is protected by a national park service. It is here that divers have been banned from harvesting the plant instead of being included into conservation efforts. But, as Raniamma, a 50-year old diver tole one publication, “The anti-poaching officers don’t understand. We live off the sea and we are also its guardians. What we see down there is precious and we know it.” So, the women continue their work, taking only what they need to seed their families.
The nature of their work has also changed due to climate change. The divers notice it, seeing smaller yields than they remember from 1 or 2 decades ago. By some reports harvests have dropped by 20% within the last few years due to environmental factors like a loss of biodiversity and rising temperatures. This has lead to some women rising up as activists to protect their livelihoods and the sea that nourishes them by avoiding over harvesting, months when fish breeding is at its peak and engaging in island hoping to avoid stressing one particular area. One activist from Chinnapalam village, 50-year diver Lakshmi Moorthy, was honored with the US NGO Seacology “Conservationist of the Year” award in 2015 for her efforts.
Is Seaweed An ‘Eco Miracle’?
Often used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products for both its nutrients and ability to become a gelatinous substance that thickens formulas, seaweed has had a long history of uses. Yet, recently, scientists and researchers have been hailing the plant as an ‘eco miracle’ gushing over its potential to be transformed in bioplastic and its role in removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Companies have begun harvesting it to make plastic-like packaging. To date it is being slowly turned out in beta stages, with some companies claiming that it is is stronger than the type of plastic used in most single-use plastic bags. Already, brands like Pangaia spin the fibers into their t-shirts. And, companies like SeaCell are focused on developing the plant fibers into fabric.
As a plant, seaweed offers a host of benefits to our ecosystem and plays an important role in our fight against climate change. Some research suggests that seaweed absorbs 173 million metric tons from the environment yearly. In fact, it’s believed that the underwater forests of seaplants like seaweed, mangroves and seagrasses can sequester more than 20 times more CO2 from the atmosphere than land-based forests.
For the women who dive for seaweed, the plant holds a different meaning than “eco miracle”. While the rest of the world might see seaweed as a sustainable alternative to plastic or find it in a skin cream, it is tied to their livelihood and histories. Many of the women have been diving to provide for their families since their teens. And, many will continue to do so, while also trying to protect the plant that has given them so much in return.