Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 18: Union minister of state for earth sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, inaugurated India’s first open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman Sea on Sunday, marking a significant step toward harnessing the country’s ocean resources under the Blue Economy initiative championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The pilot project, launched at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram, is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands UT Administration. It focuses on the open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed, combining scientific innovation with livelihood generation for coastal communities.

During the launch, Dr Singh handed over seaweed seeds to local fishermen for deep-water cultivation and provided finfish seeds for cage-based farming using NIOT-developed open-sea cages. He emphasized that lessons from this pilot could pave the way for larger-scale projects through public–private partnerships, expanding livelihoods and strengthening India’s Blue Economy ecosystem.

Dr Singh highlighted that India’s oceans, much like its Himalayan and mainland resources, have remained underexplored for decades. Since 2014, national priorities have shifted to recognise the vast economic potential of the maritime domain, with distinct opportunities along the western, southern, and eastern seaboards.

As part of his Andaman visit, the minister also toured the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor, established in 1983. Spanning 15 islands, including Jolly Buoy and Red Skin, the park boasts rich coral reefs, mangroves, and diverse marine species such as turtles and finfish, exemplifying India’s efforts in marine conservation alongside economic development.