Why in the News?

The Ministry of Earth Sciences released a white paper titled, "Transforming India's Blue Economy: Innovation and Sustainable Growth," outlining a roadmap to 2035.

Blue Economy in India

• Definition: According to The Energy and Resources Institute, Blue economy refers to exploring and optimizing the potential of the oceans and seas which are under India's legal jurisdiction for socio-economic development, environmental sustainability, and national security.
  • The concept of Blue Economy was first articulated in 1994 by Prof. Gunter Pauli at the United Nations University (UNU).
• Potential: India's extensive coastline (11098 km) and large Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.4 million sq. km, with its strategic location on vital global shipping lanes provides significant potential for developing this sector.
• Current Status:
  • India's blue economy contributes 4% of its GDP
    • Handles 95% of its trade by volume
  • 12 major (Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra will be 13^th major port) and 200 minor ports along its coastline.
  • By 2035, India's coastal shipping modal share is expected to grow from 6% to 33%, reflecting robust potential for economic expansion.

Challenges related to Blue Economy in India

Environmental

• Climate change impacts: Warming waters, stronger cyclones, sea-level rise, erosion of coasts and heritage sites.
• Overfishing and depletion of fish stocks. 
• Marine and port pollution damaging ecosystems (coral reefs, mangroves, marine habitats).
• Over-tourism and unplanned development degrading sensitive coastal ecosystems.
• Limited and incomplete Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
  • Example: CAG, in a report in 2022, stated that there are large-scale violations of coastal zone regulations and EIA norms by several projects in the country.

Policy and Governance

• Insufficient enforcement of international commitments and IMO regulations.
• Slow adoption of modern regulatory frameworks for emerging sectors (deep-sea mining, marine biotechnology, renewables).
• Need for strong inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination, and more harmonized policy frameworks (energy, heritage, tourism).
  • Example: Multiple government ministries and agencies are involved in various aspects of the blue economy (e.g., fisheries, shipping, environment, earth sciences), but a unified and coordinated approach is lacking.

Technological and Infrastructure

• Limited cold chain, storage, and post-harvest facilities in fisheries.
• Heavy dependence on imported specialized equipment (renewables, deep-sea mining, biotech).
• Limited shipbuilding and ship repair capacity.
• Poor transmission and grid readiness for offshore energy.
• Low commercialization of research outputs in biotechnology.
• Limited access to advanced deep-sea exploration technology.
  • Example: India has used France's IFREMER's submersible, Nautile, for test expeditions in the Atlantic Ocean

Financial and Investment

• Low levels of private sector investment across fisheries, ports, renewables, biotech.
• Limited financing for small-scale fishers, start-ups, and coastal tourism cooperatives.
• Insurance gaps for small ventures and capital-intensive activities.
• Majority of funding for marine biotechnology research in India coming from government bodies like the Department of Biotechnology rather than private venture capital firms.

Social and Equity

• Skill shortages: Trained technicians, high-skill jobs in ports, biotech, deep-sea ops.
• Weak representation of marginalized groups (tribal, women, small-scale fishers) with economic benefits often bypassing them along with persistent threat of displacement.
  • Example: women constitute up to 72% of India's coastal fisheries workforce, they are largely confined to informal, low-paying jobs.

Successful Case Studies related to Blue Economy of India

• Kochi's Smart Port Transformation through Digital Twin Integration (Virtual Port)
  • The integration has shown tangible benefits in operational efficiency, enhanced planning accuracy and resilience while also supporting environmental monitoring.
• Alang, Gujarat: Transforming Shipbreaking into a Circular Economy Model
  • Alang achieved compliance with Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, indicating shift towards environmentally sustainable resource recovery and value addition in a traditionally heavy industry.
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands (ANI): A Model for Sustainable Coastal and Marine Tourism
  • Community-led programs, investing in eco-friendly infrastructure leading to around 5,000 jobs and reduced tourist-zone waste by 40%.
  • Blue Flag certification for beaches and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) helped regulate tourism in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). 
• Community-led Seaweed Cultivation in Odisha: A Model for Sustainable Coastal Livelihoods
  • Odisha's annual seaweed output has reached approximately 5,000 tons, providing crucial supplementary income for over 10,000 coastal households.
  • Environmentally, seaweed farming absorbs dissolved carbon dioxide, contributes to climate change mitigation, improves water quality, and reduces pressure on stressed fish stocks.

Conclusion

Targeted investments in green technologies, resilient infrastructure, and skill development are crucial for India's blue economy. Sustainable resource management and inclusive participation along with innovative financing models like blue bonds, carbon credit markets, and public-private partnerships will mobilize capital, fostering long-term competitiveness and resilience while balancing economic growth with environmental health.