Agar, alginic acid and carrageenan are the major phycocolloids obtained from seaweeds that are stored in their cell walls. The phycocolloids extracted from seaweed species of commercial importance collected quarterly from nine locations along the Kerala coast formed the basis of this communication. Agarophytes harvested for extraction of agar were represented by seven species and out of them, highest yield (% dry weight) of agar was obtained from Gelidium pusillum and the lowest from Gracilaria foliifera. Alginophytes Sargassum duplicatum collected from Mullur as well as Sargassum tenerrimum from Thikkodi registered algin yield though comparable to Sargassum wightii, their biomass availability was seasonal and limited. Carrageenan yielding seaweeds are represented by nine species and the highest yield of carrageenan was recorded by Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (38.13 %) occurring in the bay waters of Dhalavapuram and Kannur stations followed by Hypnea valentiae (35.28%) occurring in seven stations. The present investigation highlighted the occurrence of considerable wet biomass of Gracilaria corticata, G. foliifera, Gelidium pusillum for agar production, Laurencia paniculata, Hypnea valentiae, H. musciformis and Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis for carrageenan production and Sargassum wightii, Padina gymnospora and P. tetrastromatica for algin production and their colloid yields from 9 intertidal areas along the Kerala coast.

Agar, algin, carrageenan, extraction methods, polysaccharide yield, seaweed industry, phycopreneur