Promoting Blue Economy

Why in the News?

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Science & Technology said that the Blue Economy is the sixth dimension of its Vision of New India by 2030.

Probable Question

Despite sharing a pre-eminent position in the Indian ocean and vast coastline, India’s Blue economy potential has not been fully tapped. Comment

Key Points

India’s Efforts to Promote Blue Economy

• Draft Policy Document on Blue Economy 
  • A Draft Policy document on Blue Economy has been prepared by the Ministry of Earth Sciences which emphasizes the holistic development of India’s Blue Economy.
  • It outlines the vision and strategy that can be adopted by the Government of India to utilize the plethora of oceanic resources available in the country. 
  • It aims to:
    •  Enhance the contribution of the blue economy to India’s GDP
    •  Improve lives of coastal communities
    •  Preserve marine biodiversity
    •  Maintain the national security of marine areas and resources
• The Deep Ocean Mission was launched with a view to explore the deep ocean for resources and develop deep-sea technologies for sustainable use of ocean resources.
• Integrated Coastal Zone Management which lays focus on coastal and marine resources conservation, and sustainably improving livelihood opportunities for coastal communities etc.

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What is the Blue Economy?

• The idea of ‘Blue economy’ was first articulated by Gunter Pauli in 2010 and later discussed at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio + 20 in 2012.
• According to the World Bank, the Blue economy is the "sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem." 

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Importance of Blue Economy

• India’s Blue economy is understood as a subset of the national economy comprising an entire ocean resources system and human-made economic infrastructure in marine, maritime, and onshore coastal zones within the country’s legal jurisdiction.
• It aids the production of goods and services that have clear linkages with economic growth, environmental sustainability, and national security. 
• The Blue economy offers a vast socio-economic opportunity for coastal nations like India to utilize ocean resources for societal benefit responsibly.

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India’s Blue Economy Potential

• With a coastline of nearly 7.5 thousand kilometres, India has a unique maritime position. Nine of its 29 states are coastal, and the nation’s geography includes 1,382 islands. 
• There are nearly 199 ports, including 12 major ports that handle approximately 1,400 million tons of cargo each year. 
• Moreover, India’s Exclusive Economic Zone of over 2 million square kilometres has a bounty of living and non-living resources with significant recoverable resources such as crude oil and natural gas

Conclusion

• Blue Economy could well be the next multiplier of GDP and well-being, provided sustainability and socio-economic welfare are kept center-stage. 
• However, achieving the blue economy goals would require extensive cooperation between the community of coastal states and a range of other stakeholders that include the private sector, non-governmental organizations, scientific and local communities.

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