India launches first open-sea marine fish farming project, marking new push for blue economy

India marked a historic milestone in harnessing its ocean resources with the launch of the country’s first open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman Sea. The initiative was inaugurated by Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh at North Bay near Sri Vijaya Puram during a field visit to the open waters, signalling a decisive move towards ocean-based economic growth.

Describing the project as a foundational step in unlocking the Blue Economy, Dr Jitendra Singh said the initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long-standing vision of leveraging India’s vast maritime resources for sustainable development and livelihood generation. He emphasised that India’s oceans hold enormous untapped potential, comparable to the country’s Himalayan and mainland wealth.

The Minister noted that despite India’s extensive coastline and exclusive maritime zones, ocean resources remained largely ignored for nearly seven decades after Independence. He said a major shift in national perspective has taken place since 2014, with renewed focus on recognising the oceans as a powerful driver of economic growth. Highlighting the diversity of India’s maritime geography, Dr Singh pointed out that the western, eastern, and southern seaboards each possess unique ecological and economic strengths.

The pilot project is being implemented through a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, its technical institution the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Union Territory Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It focuses on open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed using scientific interventions designed for natural ocean conditions, combining advanced technology with community-based livelihoods.

As part of the launch, two key livelihood-focused activities were initiated. Under the marine flora component, seaweed seeds were distributed to local fishing communities to encourage deep-water seaweed farming in open seas. Simultaneously, finfish seeds were provided for cage-based cultivation under the marine fauna component, supported by NIOT-developed open-sea cages capable of withstanding dynamic ocean environments.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the current initiative is government-led, but the technical experience and viability data generated could pave the way for larger-scale adoption through public–private partnership models in the future. Such an approach, he added, would help expand employment opportunities and accelerate the growth of India’s Blue Economy.

During his visit to the Andaman Islands, the Minister also toured the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor, one of India’s earliest marine protected areas established in 1983. Spread across 15 islands and accessed via the Wandoor Jetty, the park is known for its preserved marine habitats, including coral reefs, mangroves, turtles, and diverse fish species. The Minister observed the park’s thriving and self-sustaining ecosystem.

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The launch at North Bay underscores the Government of India’s commitment to taking science and technology beyond laboratories and into real-world settings, ensuring that coastal and island communities play a central role in the country’s ocean-driven development journey.