During the last three decades detailed information was obtained on the occurrence of economically useful seaweeds on the Indian shores and their utilisation as sources of phycocolloids, food, fodder and fertilizer. Many ecological and biological investigations have also been undertaken on agarophytes, alginophytes and other seaweeds to understand their growth and reproductive behaviours in the natural habitats. Systematic resources surveys were made in some maritime States and manufacturing of agar-agar and algin was started from the sources available in different parts of the country. The work done on Indian seaweeds is reviewed in this paper to get an idea of the present status of the seaweed industry and resources position in the country. From the data available on productive seaweed areas and harvesting seasons, steps to be taken for proper management and rational exdloitation of the existing natural resources are suggested.