Blue Economy :

Opportunities and sustainable concern

Dr. U S Panda
Scientist – E
National Centre for Coastal Research
Ministry of Earth Sciences, Chennai
uspanda@[Link]
Outline
• Blue Economy – why it is important Economic
sustainabilit
• Emerging sectors – opportunities ! y

• Technological demonstrations
• Environmental sustainable concerns
• Blue growth – India’s initiatives Environmen
Social
tal
sustainabilit
• Blue economy governance framework sustainabilit
y
y
 Blue Economy
The Blue Economy is sustainable use of
ocean resources for economic growth,
improved livelihoods and jobs, while
preserving the health of marine and
Prof. Gunter Pauli
coastal ecosystem.
The World Bank

• Blue Economy stimulates economic growth through the sustainable utilization of ocean resources with technological inputs to
improve livelihoods and meet the growing demands for jobs without hampering the health of the ocean ecosystem.
The idea of ‘Blue Economy’
• Blue Economy supports food security, manages and protects the ocean environment, creates new jobs and has diversification to
was first articulated by
add new resources for energy, drugs, chemicals, food and minerals for human welfare.
Prof. Gunter Pauli in
1994
• Blue Economy builds resilience to climate change.
 Blue Economy Concept
• The Blue Economy conceptualizes oceans and seas as development
spaces
– It incorporates new technologies such as oil & gas, tourism, shipping,
marine fishing & marine aquaculture
• Blue Economy is an ocean economy
– It aims at the improvement of human well-being & social equity, which
reduces environmental risks & ecological disasters
• Blue Economy simply defined as all economic activities of the oceans, seas
and coasts
• Blue Growth comprises
– The novel technologies for high growth & job potentials such as wave, tidal,
offshore wind etc.
 UN Sustainable Development Goals
193 members of the UN General Assembly adopted “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development” : on 25th September 2015

15 Years 17 Goals 169 Targets 230 Indicators

3 Pillars of SDG

Economic growth

Social inclusion

Environmental sustainability
 THE OCEAN
Economic Value Regulates weather & Climate
Produce half the oxygen Carbon sequestration-
absorb 30% of CO2 emissions
Fishery - US$401 billion/year
Employment- 60 million people
$3-6 trillion/year 20 % of avg. animal protein for 3.3 billion people
Goods and services:  $2.5 trillion/year

Recreation
Minerals & Oil upto 50% GDP
Oil reserves- 41 Gt Transportation: 70-90 % of trade Major economy for coastal & Island countries
(28% of the total production) • Scuba diving
Gas reserves- 65 trillion m3 • Water sports
• Cruise liners

Ecological Value Coastal protection

80 % of the planet’s biodiversity Prevention of erosion
Water purification
Critical Habitats
Seagrass Coral reef Mangroves
Blue Carbon
Mangroves, seagrass & seaweeds remove CO2
from atmosphere 10 times faster than
rainforest
 The Blue Economy
>> Economy of the future
Ocean economy - 7th largest economy Sustainable Blue Economy Sector
in the world (GDP)
Tourism
Harnessing renewable Sustainable tourism
energy

Sustainable Fisheries &

Aquaculture Governance
Improved fisheries Reduce pollutants
management, Protect & conserve
sustainable aquaculture marine life
protection of key habitats Reduce conflict

Smart shipping to reduce Climate Regulation

environmental impact Protect coastal communities

Source: UNCTAD and World Travel and Tourism Council data (2020).

Billions of people, especially the world’s developing nations depend upon on

healthy oceans as a source of jobs and food - underscoring the urgent need to The World Bank has already invested $3.67
sustainably use, manage and protect this natural resource. billion in its Blue Economy program
 8

Blue economy !
• Ocean assets are valued at over $24 trillion.
• Projected growth from US $1.5 trillion in economic activity and 31,000,000 direct jobs in 2010
• Over $3.6 trillion and 45,000,000 jobs between 2010 and 2030
• The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy in 2020 estimated investing US $2 to
$3.2 trillion would generate between $8 to $22,8 trillion from 2020 to 2050 –a net ROI of 400
to 615%.
• Every $1 invested in mangroves would yield >$3 in direct net benefit, excluding indirect
benefits for blue carbon, fisheries, ecosystems etc.
• Every $1 invested in offshore wind production would yield $2-$17.
• Every $1 in decarbonisation of shipping would yield a net benefit of $2-$5 minimum
• Projects indicate though over 90% of coral reefs will die by 2050
• It is projected with current rate by 2050, more plastic then fish species in the oceans
• IUU fisheries cost a minimum $17 to $30 billion each year
 Challenges to Ocean Economy
•  40% of the global population live along the coast (>2.8 billion people, live within 100 km of
the coast)
• Overexploitation of resources (e.g., IUU Fisheries, fish, oil & gas)
• Increased anthropogenic disturbances (e.g., effluent discharge, plastic & recreation)
• Destruction of critical habitats (e.g., coral reefs, mangroves, Species Extinction, Migration and
Biodiversity)
• Conflicts- resources, values and cultures
• Climate change (increasing temperature, ocean acidification, sea level rise)
• Increase in extreme events (e.g., heavy rainfall & cyclone)
• COVID19 and pandemics
• Coastal Erosion/Sand Mining, Seabed Mining
 Coastal Systems : Benefits

Coastal States : 9
Coastal UT’S : 4

Salt Marsh  Coastal wetlands : 43230 km2 Mangrove

 Major estuaries : 97 System
 Major Lagoons : 34
 Mangrove area : 5403 Km2
 Coral Reef area : 1401 Km2
 Marine Protected Area: 6271 Km2
Caves & Arches Spit and Barrier
Islands

Dunes, Turtle Nesting

Bay, Head Land Beaches

Pulicat Lake
Cliff

Islands & Lagoon

Mud Flats Vellar Estuary

 Challenges in India
Indian Marine System Challenges
• Coastline of 7,517 km in length
• 13.36 % of population lives in 13 coastal
states & Union Territories
• Second largest producer of Fish
• 3.56 MT of fishery production in 2019
(CMFRI 2020) with value of Rs. 65,000
crores contributing significantly to the
economy
• Sustains & provides a source of livelihood
to over 250 million people
• One of the fastest-growing economies of
the world
Source: United Nations in India
 12

Issues
and Challenges and
Problems Opportunities

Blue Economy offers a suite of opportunities for

sustainable, clean, equitable blue growth in both
traditional and emerging sectors
Blue Economy – Potential Industrial Opportunities

Ocean Economy Emerging Blue Economy

Activities Opportunities
Fisheries, Aquaculture Cabotage

Shipping; Transport Marine finance, entrepreneurship

and Ports and insurance; Dry Ports
Marine and Cargo Undersea mining/Bioprospecting
Services
Navies - Ocean and Drones, Robotics/Marine
Coastal Governance Protection
Offshore oil and gas Marine Renewable Energy;
Desalination
Marine, Cruise Marine Biotechnology; Blue
Tourism and Carbon
Recreation
Education and Maritime research and
Training development, Technology e.g.
sensors
Ship Repair Vessel automation and conversion

Small Harbours and Marine pollution, waste recycling

Marinas and the circular economy
 Emerging Sectors

Conservation & Maritime Offshore Dredging &

Tourism Fisheries environmental transport & aggregate
protection ports Petroleum extraction

Beach Maritime Sand

Recreational MPA Crude oil
tourism industry mining

Cruise Goods and Internation Natural Port

Commercial
ships services al shipping gas dredging

Amenity Port and Deep sea

Blue Flag
Mariculture harbour
accreditation values facilities mining

Ecosystem
Cage
based
culture
services
Opportunities of Blue Economy with
Changing climate and environment
 Primary Resources
 Water
 Food
• Water – Desalination, dams etc.
 Energy
• Food – PFZ, Biotechnology, culture etc.  Secondary Resources

• Energy – Wave and tidal, oil, Gas, etc. 
Minerals (mining)
Transportation
• Transport – shipping, tourism  Waste Disposal
 Biotechnology
• Resources – Deep sea mining, critical habitat ecosystems  Tourism
 Industries / intervention /
• Pollution- Green technologies, STPs, restoration etc. technological demonstration
• Climate change - coastal hazards etc.  Impediments
 Climate Change
 Overexploitation and Waste
Disposal
 Maritime securities

Sustainable concerns - SDGs

 Water
 “One out of every Six persons in the
developing countries lack access to
clean drinking water” - WHO.
 Twenty major cities are located along
Indian coastline. The water
requirements are:
 In 2008 - 6,267 MLD
 In 2026 - 23,607 MLD
 Many large-scale desalination units are
being established in the country.
 Still regions like Tamil Nadu, Sourashtra,
Kutch, Rajasthan and Islands face severe
drinking water shortage.
 Water
Sustainable Development Goals: Vision 2030
 Ensure access to water and sanitation for all (No. 6) Temperature (deg C)
350 0 5 10 15 20 25 30
0

Desalination Methods- sectors 500

Depth (m)
 Distillation 1000

 Membrane
1500

 Hybrid systems Lakshadweep Islands

 LTTD Technology 2000

LTTD Principle – Technology demonstrated

 The temperature difference is utilized to produce potable
water by evaporating surface sea water at low pressures
and condensing the resultant fresh vapor with cold water.

Innovative Technology : Low temperature Thermal Desalination

 Desalination: Low Temperature Thermal Desalination for Remote Islands

 Indigenized technology to produce drinking water from the ocean.

 The 3 operational desalination plants at Kavaratti, Agatti and Minicoy each
produce drinking water of 1 Lakh liters per day. Being maintained with local
manpower, the plants have become the life line for these remote islands.
 Six more desalination plants of 1.5 lakh liters per day drinking water capacity are
being established in UT Lakshadweep, covering the remaining inhabited islands, UT Lakshadweep
Amini, Androth, Chetlat, Kadamat, Kalpeni, and Kiltan. The plant in Kalpeni
generated fresh water in Jan 2020.

LTTD Process Plant Configuration

 Establishment of Desalination Plants in 6 islands of UT Lakshadweep

 Lakshadweep islands are facing acute drinking water shortage , 3 plants built with capacity of 1 Lakh liters
per day, in operation since 13 years at Kavaratti and 8 years at Minicoy and Agatti.

2005 2011 2011

Kavaratti Minicoy Agatti

Chetlat

Schematic of LTTD concept Kadamat

Kiltan
Typical Island profile

1000m

Lagoon
Reef Desalination plant
400m Amini
Cold water pipe

LTTD plant at Agatti Kalpeni Androth

 Kalpasar Dyke Project
 Saurashtra of Gujarat is facing severe water scarcity.
 To overcome the problem Govt. of Gujarat intends to create fresh water reservoir by constructing
a multipurpose dam across Gulf.
 Components of the Project
 30 km Earthen Dam with Spillways
 Narmada diversion canal
 Irrigation canals along Saurashtra
 Renewable energy for Lift irrigation
 10 lane road over Dam
 Benefits of the project
 Meeting per capita demand of Saurashtra
 Irrigation for 10.54 Lakh ha.
 Reduces distance between Bhavnagar and
Surat (350 km to 50 km)
 Land reclamation of about 2 Lakh ha.
 Reduction in ground Water Salinity.
 Fisheries with direct employment to 1 Lakh
PROJECT BENEFITS
 22

Food: Living Resources (Fisheries & Aquaculture)

• Important role in ensuring
• food security,
• poverty alleviation,
• huge potential for business opportunities

• Aquaculture
• Global aquaculture production (including
aquatic plants) in 2016 =110.2 million tonnes
• Global Aquaculture fish production= 80 million
tonnes
• 19.3 million people employed
• 202 countries/ 194 active countries
• China = Dominating
• India= 2nd rank
 Food: Living Resources
 Fish is a crucial source of animal protein.
 2.9 million - 20 % animal protein intake
 4.3 billion - 15 % of animal protein.
 150g fish -> 50-60 % of daily protein requirement.
 Present fish production Open cage Culture
 Inland-3.4 MMT
 Marine-3.0 MMT
 Potential fish production - 8.4MMT
 West coast - 67 %
 East coast – 33 %

Mud Crab Culture

 Aquaculture and MPA Employment Opportunities
Input/Stocks e.g. hatcheries, feed, supplies, transport, fuel, Producer/Production Processes (, fertilizing/monitoring, land,
records, and other equipment/services. construction materials, buildings with moorings and walkways
Species maturing and fish husbandry; Vets, Cultivation and harvesting stages, packaging
Storage/Processing Education and Training; Research, Technology
Marketing/Distribution Logistics, Insurance, Design and construction, engineering, Security
Retailer/ -shops, Wholesaler Recreational and game fishing/tourism and events
Restaurants, Cafes Marine Ecological Capital -Blue Bonds
Ornamental pet fish, Aquariums and Tourism/tours Jewellery, cosmetics
Value adding beneficiation e.g. cans, ready meals Marine biotechnology; dieticians, medical,
HR and Recruitment, Procurement, Administration Volunteers, Rangers
Marketing, Distribution and Logistics, IT, Environmental Education, Training, Testing, Research and Development, Lab
Monitoring Technicians, Chemists,
Diving, surveyors, salvaging, Vets, Ferries, Refreshments, Gifts, Toys
Tourism -guides, marine archaeologists Biotechnicians, Biologists, Psychologists, Biochemistry,
Servicing and repairing equipment/infrastructure Value added products, Nutrition etc. Nutraceuticals,
Bioremediation, Marine Ecological Restoration Marine ecological capital reserves, blue carbon bonds
Biotechnology
 Marine plants and animals are important sources of new medicines being developed to treat
cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, viruses, and
other diseases.
 India being a tropical country, endowed with great diversity of marine micro algal species,
combined with optimal environmental conditions, provides great opportunities for
commercial scale algal production which has applications in the food, nutritional, cosmetic,
pharmaceutical and bio-fuel industry.

Drugs from sea Courtesy: NIOT

 26

Marine Biotechnology Research & Development

• Aquaculture, whereby new methodologies will help in:
• selective breeding of species,
• increasing sustainability of production,
• preventive therapeutic measures,
• use of zero-waste recirculation systems
• Marine biotechnology is related to:
• the development of renewable energy products and processes, for example through the use
of marine algae.
• potentially used as novel drugs, health, nutraceuticals and personal care products;
• Environmental issues, such as:
• bio-sensing technologies to allow in situ marine monitoring,
• in bioremediation and in developing cost-effective and non-toxic antifouling technologies
 Maritime Education and Training/Circular Economy Employment
Opportunities
Hydrographic surveyor; geoscientist; Electronics Intermodal transport and storage, ports,
bioprospecting
Envionmental monitoring and modelling Education, Training, Testing, Research and
Development
Aquaculture -as per previous table, Vets, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics, Gene therapy, Genetics

Wholesaler, Retailer, processing Biotechnicians, Biologists, Psychologists, Biochemistry,

Drones, diving, inspections Banking, Insurance and finance

Servicing and repairing equipment/infrastructure Value added products, Nutrition etc. Nutraceuticals,

Fermentation and process; cell and tissue biotechnology Marine ecological capital reserves, blue carbon bonds

Nanobiotechnology, Bioinformatics, Bioweaponry, Biofuels and electricity, Biomimetic and biomaterials

Bioremediation, Marine Eco Restoration Microbial Enhanced Oil Recovery, Chemicals,

Ecosystem-
based
approach

>> towards Sustainable

Development of Coastal
ecosystems and urban
areas

UNEP (2011)
Energy : Renewable
Sustainable Development Goals: Vision 2030
 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (No. 7)

• The world population is expected to

increase to an estimated 9 billion
people in 2050,
• 1.5 times more
• Increase demands on fossil fuels
• "blue energy - Ocean"
• wind,
• wave,
• tidal,
• thermal,
• biomass sources
Energy : Renewable

OTEC

Wave

Courtesy: NIOT
Renewable Energy

Wind

Tide
 Offshore Wind Energy Wind Resource Assessment

Potential sites based on Wind Resource

Assessment:
Rameshwaram & Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu)
Gulf of khambhat and Kutch (Gujarat)

Offshore wind potential in initially identified blocks

Gujarat – 36 GW
Tamil Nadu - 25 GW

Overall Potential along Indian Coast will be more

than 100 GW, which accounts 27% by wind
alone.
Minerals: Nonliving Resources

Sustainable Development Goals: Vision 2030

 Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources (No. 14)
Minerals:
 Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) and Rodrigues Triple Junction (RTJ).

Mn : 24-30% 4000- 6000 m

Polymetallic Nodules Cu : 1-2%, (CCZ, CIOB) Mostly in plains
(nodular objects lying and gentle
on the ocean floor) Ni :1-2% 2000-5000 m slopes
Co : 0.15-0.3% (Cook Islands)
Phosphorites ~ 300 m
P2O5: 21-33% Mostly in plains
(Nodules and crusts) (EEZ off TN coast)
Co : 0.7% 400-4000 m Seamounts ridges offshore
Cobalt Rich Crust
Ti : 1.2% (~1.6% - Ocean Floor) and plateaux drilling? / Deep
Polymetallic Sulphides Pb, Zn, Cu, Au, Ag 3000 -4000 m Volcanic mounds Sea Mining
Oil and Gas : Nonliving Resources
Oil and gas - 37 % of total energy consumption.
OIL GAS
 In 2014 - 5.7 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.  India has 1.4 tcm of gas proved reserves & produced
 Oil production rate in 2015 - 0.75 million barrels per day. 33.66 bcm of gas in 2015.
 Oil consumption is expanding at a Compounded Annual  Approximately 34 per cent of total reserves are located
Growth Rate of 3.3 %. onshore, while 66 per cent are offshore.
 India’s LNG imports are increasing at an annual
compounded rate of 18.67 % during FY2008–FY17.
Deep Sea Mining Resources
Gas Hydrates
 Gas hydrates are crystalline form of methane.
 India has more than 970 Trillion Cubic Meter (TCM) of methane stored in the form of
gas hydrate in the continental margins of India.
 10% production can meet India's energy requirement for about one century.
 The research firmly established the fracture controlled occurrence of hydrate in
Krishna-Godavari basin.

Autonomous Coring system

Courtesy: NIOT
 Mining – Technological demonstration

Exploration Soil Tester Mining System

ROSUB 6000 In-situ Soil Tester Underwater Crawler

Courtesy: NIOT
 37

Transportation: Seaports & Shipping

• 80 % of global trade by
volume

• Over 70 % by value is
carried by sea and handled
by ports worldwide
 Marine Transportation - India
 Maritime transport is critical for the economic
development of a country. It influences the pace,
structure and pattern of development.
 India has 12 Major and 187 minor Ports that carry
nearly 95% of India's trade volume.
 Cargo traffic at Indian ports has doubled to 1 billion
tonnes per annum over the last decade (FY 2005 -
2015) and is expected to reach 1.7 billion tonnes per
annum by 2022.
 To meet the increasing demand:
 Develop deep water ports for handling heavy
vessels.
 Improve cargo handing facility at existing ports
Sagar mala – an opportunity development.
 39

Tourism
• Marine tourism, with its
related marine activities
(including cruise
tourism),
• contributor to the
economy of countries
and for generating
employment.
• Marine parks support
billions of dollars of vital
ecosystem services
worldwide
 Tourism
 Foreign tourist increasing at a rate of 7 % over 2005–
15.
 2015 – USD 147.7 billion.
 2022 – USD 418.9 billion

 The country’s big coastline is dotted with a number

of attractive beaches.

 Improve infrastructure for activities like; Angling,

Swimming, Water Skiing, Surfing, Scuba diving and
Beach Front resorts

 Important to integrate principles of sustainable

development and environmental protection
 Tourism and Marine Renewable Energy/Offshore Employment
Opportunities

Construction of tidal, wave, wind, solar, current, thermal Equipment -pipes, drilling, tools, lubrication, paint, spools,
energy conversion and other energy types infrastructure, wind tensioning cables, turbines, various sensors, installations,
vessels, offshore platforms, tidal stream devices operations and maintenance
Drilling/energy/mining engineer; geologists, geochemist Vessel repair and maintenance, tugs and barges
Hydrographic surveyor; geoscientist; Electronics Intermodal transport and storage, ports,
HR and Recruitment, Procurement, Administration Medical, Health and Safety
Security, Legal, Environmental, Insurance, Technology, Technicians, Research and Development

Drones, diving, inspections, ports, shipping Catering, entertainment, bunkerage services

Subsea and pipeline engineers, Electricians Refineries, petrol stations, pipelines, processing, retail

Banking, Insurance and finance Desalination plants; Salinity gradient technology;

Hydrodynamicists, Sales managers, Oceanographers, Riggers, pipe fitters and wielders
Tourism Consultants
Decommissioning circular economy
Coastal Pollution
Pollution impacts
AIR POLLUTION Global costs: $ 5,322 billion; 7.2% GDP
• 6.5 million people die due to poor air quality including 4.3 million due to household air pollution
• Lower respiratory infections: 51 million lost or lived with disability due to household or ambient air pollution
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases: 32 million life lost or lived with disability because of air pollution
WATER POLLUTION Global Costs: $ 306 billion; 0.4%GDP

• 58 % of diarrheal disease due to lack of access to clean water; sanitation

• 57 million years life lost or lived with disability due to poor water, sanitation, hygiene
MARINE AND COASTAL POLLUTION

• 3.5 billion people depend on oceans for source of food which are used as waste and waste water dumps
• Close to 500 ‘dead zones’, regions that have too little oxygen to support marine organisms
• Plastics (75% of marine litter) carry persistent bio accumulative and toxic substances Source: WHO (2016)

Action on Pollution can

achieve multiple SDGs
 Coastal Water Quality Monitoring and Prediction System
Water Quality Buoy System

Site specific problems

Fish kill, Oil spill, sewage
Land based pollution (SDG 14.1)

तट य व छ सेवा
Coastal Clean Services
Coastal / Rip currents

Harmful algal blooms (HABs)

Coastal Water Quality Index SDG Marine Litter- Micro plastic 5 day forecast of WQ parameters
indicator (SDG Target)
 Coastal Water Quality Buoy – Realtime monitoring
Water Quality Sensors
Dissolve Oxygen
Dashboard – Data display WQ Buoys – off Puducherry
pH

Water
Temperature
Electrical
Conductivity

Wiper

Depth

Blue green Algae

Turbidity Meteorological Sensors

Sensors 1. Air temperature; -40 to 70oC (±0.3oC )
2. Relative humidity; 0 to100% ((±2% )
Water Quality sensors YSI Exo-2 WQ Sonde 3. Barometric pressure; 300 to 1100 hPa (±0.5 hPa )
4. Wind speed; 0.1 to 60m/s (3 to 5%)
5. Wind Direction; 0 to 359o ( 3 to 5o)
6. Solar Radiation; 300 to 3000nm
Water Quality Sensors
1. Temperature; -5 to 50°C (±0.2°C)
2. Conductivity ; 0 to100 mS/cm (±1%)
3. DO; 0 to 500% air sat (±1%)
4. pH; 0-14 (±0.1)
5. Chlorophyll; 0 to 400 μg/L (0.01 μg/L )
Metrological 6. Turbidity; 0 to 4000 NTU (0.01 NTU)
Current meter 7. Blue Green Algae; 0 to 280 μg/L (0.01 μg/L )
sensors
Oceanographic Sensors
1. Current Speed; ±5m/s (1%)
2. Current Direction; 0 -359 (1o )
3. Wave Height; (±0.5cm)
4. Wave Period; (0.001s)
5. Wave Direction; 0-360 o (±4 o )
 Water Quality Buoy : Deployment & Data
([Link]

Buoy data at NCCR

Unveiling of Buoy

Chennai: Puducherry :
Location: 13.067191 N, 80.297576 E Location: 11.919518 N, 79.84643 E
Depth: 10m Depth: 12m
Deployment On : 07 / 03/ 2021 Deployment On : 27 / 07/ 2021
Data (10min) : NCCR , Sate government Data (10min) : NCCR , PPCB, Puducherry
Meteorology, Water quality Meteorology, Water quality
 Marine Litter and Microplastics

• National Marine Litter Policy is being framed with an objective to clean

up the oceans, in line with UN Environment’s global ‘Clean Seas
Campaign’ that India joined on World Environment Day 2018.

• India’s plastic consumption is 10 times lower than US (109 kg/capita)

• Projections indicate that there will be 18.7% increase in mismanaged

plastic mass from 0.6 to 2.88 MMT/ yr. from 2010 to 2025.
34 Beaches (26 Coordinators, 6984 Volunteers)
• Ministry of Earth Sciences will gauge marine litter and its origin, fate and 35 tonnes (Total Litter weight)
transport from source to sink. 1-2 km (each beach length covered)
22 (institutes, academics, NGO & Public)

• Multinational joint efforts / collaborations have been signed (MoU with

Norway, UK, SACEP etc.)

• Proposed to adopt 50 Indian beaches for periodical coastal cleanup

activities, and monitoring of beach litter.

10-12-2022 National Center for Coastal Resesarch (NCCR), MoES 47

 Marine Litter & Microplastics
Coastal Cleanup Day State-wise composition of Beach Litter

• 34 Beaches, 26 Coordinators, 6,984 Volunteers

(ICG, Schools, College, Institutes, NGO & Public)
• Total litter : 34.993 tonnes (Plastics & Glass)
• Major source: Recreation & Tourism, Fishing
 Restoration of coral reefs at Gulf of Mannar
Monitoring – Status of coral reefs

• Coral Reef Monitoring Studies - Impact and Health Status.

• Restoration of Coral Studies - Seasonal and Growth rate.
• Bleaching of corals observed - due to Marine higher SST.
• Coral Reef Health Index – Draft report

Bleaching – a major threat to coral ecosystem

Restoration

Coral Reef Ecosystems in India

- Gulf of Mannar
- Lakshadweep Islands
- Malvan, Maharashtra
- Andaman & Nicobar
- Gulf of Kutch
 Climate Change
Sustainable Development Goals: Vision 2030
 Take urgent action to combat climate change
and its impacts (No. 13)

Threats to the Coastal Zone

 Sea level rise

 Coastal hazards – cyclone, storm surge, floods etc.
 Geomorphological changes, Erosion/ chocking
 Ecological Risks

 Coastal and Marine Pollutions - land based, oil spill etc.

 Coastal Security
 Oxygen Minimum Zones and Coastal Hypoxia Zones

OMZs (blue) and areas with coastal hypoxia (red) in

550 Hypoxic Areas
the world’s ocean
(Isensee et al., 2015; Breitburg et al., 2018; including oxygen effects from
60 Hypoxic Areas in recovery
Keeling and Garcia, 2002; Diaz and Rosenberg, 2008; Carstensen et al., 250 Eutrophic Areas in Danger of Hypoxia
2014). OMZ Touching 1,150,000 km2 of Seabed
Helly & Levin 2004
Diaz et al. 2010
 Coastal Hazards
Coastal hazards are natural and human-made hazards that occur at
the interface between the ocean and the shoreline. Coastal hazards
are categorized as rapid-onset (fast moving) or slow-onset hazards

Rapid-Onset Hazards Storms Floods Coastal Flooding Storm Surge

Storms
Flooding
Storm Surge
Tsunamis

Slow-Onset Hazards Coastal Erosion Saltwater Intrusion Sea Level Rise Land Subsidence
Shoreline Erosion
Sea Level Rise
Saltwater Intrusion
Land Subsidence
Sea Level Change in Southeast Asia
Cities at Risk of Sea Level
Rise
 Coastal inundation
Tsunami
Urban Flood

Chennai
1 Dec 2015 :
494mm in 24
hours,

Mumbai
26 July 2005 :
944mm in 24
hours,

Strom Surge Sea Level Rise

56
Integrated Flood Warning System

I-FLOWS is an integrated approach to

flood modelling and mapping within
the disaster risk reduction framework,
leveraging weather models, field data,
numerical flood models, and Web GIS
technologies for operational purposes.

Developed and made Operational

KOLKATTA
• iFLOWS-Chennai (CFLOWS ver 2.0)
•iFLOWS-Mumbai

In the Pipeline

• iFLOWS-Kolkata

A collaboration of MoES Institutes

(IMD, NCMRWF, IITM, NCCR)
 Erosion along Pondicherry coast
Mid 19th Century Before constructing harbour After constructing harbour

Affected Fishing Villages Seawall

Thandirayan
Nadu
Kuppam Kuruchi Vembakirapal
Kuppam Soudani Solai Nagar Vaithi Kuppam ayam
Kuppam
Kuppam Pondy Blocked
Tamil Nadu Puducherry Harbour sand
Beach Restoration along Pondicherry coast

Nearshore wave transformation by

reef

Beach Formation South of Reef Beach Formation North of Reef

Major Challenge Launching Wedge Reef

Steel caisson of 60 m long, 50 m wide and 2.5m tall and weighing about 900 tons 60
Puducherry- Beach Restoration

61
Status of Puducherry beach- Before and After nourishment

Before After
 Kadalur Periyakuppam- Erosion
 Severe erosion observed following Nilam, Thane
cyclones
 Field monitoring of beach profiles, current, wave, tide
and geotechnical parameters carried out for over 4
years
 Proposed Offshore submerged dyke using
geosynthetic tubes (25m long 15.7m circumference)
designed for shore protection
Kadalur Periyakuppam-Beach Restoration
 65

Developments initiated by India

• The Sagarmala Project
• O-SMART
• Deep Ocean Mission
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
• Coastal Economic Zones (CEZ)
• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)
• National Fisheries Policy

for promoting ‘Blue Growth Initiative’

 Sagar Mala Maritime India Vision 2030
Port-led Development

Port Connectivity Port-led Community

Modernisation Enhancement industrialisation Development

▪ Capacity ▪ Highways ▪ Industrial ▪

Skill
improvement ▪ Railways clusters Development
at existing
▪ Inland ▪ Industrial ▪ Coastal
ports corridors Tourism
waterways
▪ New ports ▪ Pipelines ▪ Coastal Development
▪ Deep water ▪Multimodal
Economic ▪ Marine
and dry Zones Fisheries
Logistics Hubs
docking ports Development

• Healthy, resilient & productive marine environment, Ocean governance, Technology, research &
development, Business development, investment & finance, Maritime surveillance & enforcement,
Infrastructure, Education & capacity building
Deep Ocean Mission
Development of
 Technological innovations for Technologies for
Deep Sea
exploration and conservation of deep- Mining, Manned
sea resources. Submersible
and robotics
 Manned submersible for 6000m water Development of
Advanced
depth for under water exploration Marine Station 1 Ocean Climate
Change
 Deep Sea Mining System for extraction of for Ocean
Advisory
Biology
polymetallic nodules 6 2
Services:

Deep
 With this, Ocean
Mission
The first country to demonstrate deep Energy and 5 3 Technological
innovations for
sea mining technology beyond 5000 m freshwater from exploration and
the Ocean:
depth OTEC - 4
conservation of
deep-sea
desalination
Sustainable harnessing of ocean plant
biodiversity &
bio-resources.
resources (water, minerals, biodiversity
and energy) Deep Ocean
Survey and
India will join select club of 5 nations to Exploration
have manned submersible for ocean
exploration
 Marine Spatial Planning (MSP)

MSP is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of
human activities in coastal and marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social
objectives that are usually specified through a political process.
 India – Planning Procedures and Policies

SEA

LAND COAST

Landuse Planning -
Central Government prepares Model Acts,
ICZM Plannning -
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was issued Marine Spatial
Policies / programmes and Guidelines for
the benefit of the State Governments
in 1991 under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986,
by the Ministry of Environment and Forest - CRZ-2018
Planning
 India – Planning Procedures and Policies

Landuse Planning - ICZM Plannning -

Central Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was
Government
prepares Model
issued in 1991 under the Environmental
Protection Act, 1986, by the Ministry of ICZM is a subset of MSP
Acts, Policies / Environment and Forest
programmes and
Guidelines for the
benefit of the State Marine Spatial Planning
Governments
Marine Spatial Planning – Integrated Ocean Management
MSP is a public process of analyzing and allocating the spatial and temporal distribution of
human activities in coastal and marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social
objectives that are usually specified through a political process.

Workflow in Marine Spatial Planning Pilot Areas : Puducherry and Lakshadweep

 72

Blue Economy Governance Frameworks

International
National Level Regional Level Law and
Framework
 73

National Level
• The country has enacted many policies and laws
• The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986,
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972,
• Biological Diversity Act 2002,
• National Environment Policy, 2006,
• National Biodiversity Action Plan, 2008,
• National Action Plan on Climate, 2008
• Fisheries have a separate dedicated regulation
• Indian Fisheries Act, 1897,
• Coastal Aquaculture Authority,2005
 74

Regional Level
• IORA | Indian Ocean Rim Association
• Established in 1997, related to climate change and food security

• IOC | Indian Ocean Commission has developed a Regional Climate Action Plan 2016–2020

• SACEP | South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme

• BoBP-IGO | Bay of Bengal – Intergovernmental Organisation

• Management and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Eastern
African Region,

• Association for South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)

 75

International Law and Framework

• United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC),
• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS),
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES),
• United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),
• Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO),
• Agreement on the Conservation and Management of Straddling Fish
Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.
 Global Agreements that Regulate the use of Oceans

Twelve key provisions:

1. Setting limits
The United Nations Convention on the Law of 2. Navigation
the Sea (UNCLOS) was adopted in 1982. It lays 3. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)
down a comprehensive regime of law and 4. Continental shelf
order in the world's oceans and seas 5. Deep seabed mining
establishing rules governing all uses of the 6. The exploitation regime
oceans and their resources. The Convention 7. Technological prospects
also provides the framework for further 8. The question of universal participation in
development of specific areas of the law of the convention
the sea. 9. Pioneer investors
10. Protection of the marine environment
11. Marine scientific research
12. Settlement of disputes
 77

Moving Forward

Innovative technologies, new products and services, and demand for

‘green’ infrastructure and processes for reshaping the traditional
ocean economy to Sustainable Blue Economy

Achieving the blue economy goals would require extensive cooperation between
the community of coastal states and stakeholders for economic growth, job
opportunities, meeting food, water and energy demands and climate resilient
natural resources and it’s sustainability
 A sustainable Blue Economy -

• Investment in Nature-Based Climate Solutions

• Harnessing Ocean-Based Renewable Energy

• Decarbonizing Ocean Industries

• Securing Sustainable Food for the Future

• Deployment of Carbon Capture &Storage

• Expanding Ocean Observation and Research

Thank You

[Link]
Tweeter @CentreCoastal