There is wealth down the deep blue sea!

Experts see promise in ‘Blue economy’ and call for responsible tapping of its potential

January 07, 2017 01:09 am | Updated 01:09 am IST

TIRUPATI: If you think that the 7,500-km-long coastline that India is endowed with has immense economic potential, then think beyond!

Not just the coastline, there is immense potential hidden in the ocean, around the peninsular India, which can take the sea-based economy to greater heights when exploited in a least intrusive manner.

Speakers at the session on ‘Blue economy’ at the 104th Indian Science Congress here on Friday, elucidated the need for a comprehensive policy framework to ensure responsible tapping of its potential, while keeping the sea pristine.

National Shipping Board Chairman Vishwapati Trivedi spoke on the ‘Sagar Mala’ project, and said it was time for India to brace itself up for such an ambitious project.

The former bureaucrat favoured enhancing the quantum of cargo movement by sea and inland waterways, rather than by road or rail, in order to make logistics cheaper and also eco-friendly.

“Technology will drive commercial shipping, naval activity, and ocean space,” Dr. Trivedi said, while setting in motion the idea of looking beyond the land to establish floating islands, mid-sea ports, etc.

Former Director of National Institute of Ocean Technology M.A. Atmanand focused on mineral exploration, energy, desalination, oil, wind, and wave energy as promising areas.

As India was projected to import more than 42 per cent of its hydrocarbon in 2047, in spite of its strides in renewable power, Dr. Atmanand suggested a shift to blue hydrocarbons.

He also pointed to the plant that was converting wave energy into power at Vizhinjam in Kerala. He called the sea bed exploration tougher than space expedition, as it involved challenges like high pressure, extremely low temperature, acoustic communication, absolute darkness, limitation in understanding human resources.

National Biodiversity Authority Chairperson B. Meenakumari spoke on ‘Fish and marine biodiversity’.

Hailing the rich diversity of Indian coast, being home to estuaries, backwaters, coral reeves, mangroves, salt marshes, rocky coasts, and sandy stretches, she expressed concern over ‘destructive fishing practices’ such as blasting dynamite under sea, bottom trawling, and poaching of endangered species.

Former Director of National Centre for Antarctic and Ocean Research (NCAOR) S. Rajan spoke on the legal and policy framework required to ensure maritime discipline and restrained exploration.

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