India Strengthens Marine Conservation with Advanced Technologies and Policy Frameworks

New Delhi: The Government of India is integrating cutting-edge technologies with policy initiatives to enhance marine life conservation and sustainable fishing practices. The use of satellite imagery, remote sensing, and autonomous underwater vehicles like the C-bot is improving the monitoring of oceanic conditions, including sea surface temperature, salinity, water quality, and coral health. These advancements also bolster early warning systems to protect coral ecosystems and assist in detecting illegal fishing and tracking marine protected areas (MPAs).

A key initiative in this conservation effort is the installation of Artificial Reefs across India to restore marine biodiversity and promote sustainable fishing. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) is spearheading coral restoration and transplantation projects. India’s largest coral translocation project, led by ZSI, successfully relocated 16,522 corals from intertidal and subtidal zones to safer sites around Narara, Gujarat. Furthermore, 2,000 coral cement frames (artificial reefs) have been deployed to support long-term marine biodiversity conservation.

To enhance aquatic life restoration, the Department of Fisheries has sanctioned 937 artificial reef units across 11 coastal states and Union Territories, with an investment of ₹176.81 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).

India is also a lead country in the GloLitter Partnership Programme, an initiative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), aimed at combating marine plastic pollution from shipping and fisheries sectors. The country has established a National Task Force and implemented a National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Litter to tackle sea-based plastic waste.

In its efforts to protect coral reefs from bleaching, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) uses satellite data to provide early warnings of potential bleaching events. The Coral Bleaching Alert System (CBAS) monitors accumulated thermal stress in coral environments, generating reports every three days with crucial data on hotspots and temperature fluctuations.

The Fishery Survey of India (FSI) plays a pivotal role in tracking fish stock distribution and analyzing the impact of rising ocean temperatures on marine biodiversity. FSI also conducts awareness programs for coastal communities, educating them on climate-resilient fishing methods and alternative livelihood options.

Leading institutions such as the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography (CSIR-NIO), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), INCOIS, and the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) continue to develop climate-resilient technologies in oceanography, marine biology, and fisheries management, ensuring sustainable marine conservation strategies.