Union minister Jitendra Singh launches first open-sea marine fish farming project in Andaman Sea
Under the marine flora component, Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh distributes seaweed seeds to local fishing communities to encourage deep-water seaweed farming after launching the project during a field visit to North Bay, off the coast of Sri Vijaya Puram, on Sunday.
Sri Vijaya Puram: India on Sunday launched its first open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman Sea, marking a significant step towards harnessing the country’s ocean resources for livelihood generation and sustainable growth.
Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh formally launched the project during a field visit to North Bay, off the coast of Sri Vijaya Puram.
Addressing the gathering, Singh said the initiative represents an early but important move towards realising India’s Blue Economy potential, noting that the country’s oceans possess economic value comparable to its land and Himalayan resources. He observed that for several decades after Independence, India’s vast maritime domain remained underutilised, with a shift in policy focus emerging only in recent years.
The pilot project is being implemented through collaboration between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, its technical arm National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration. It focuses on open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed under natural oceanic conditions using indigenously developed cage technology.
During the launch, two livelihood-oriented interventions were initiated. Under the marine flora component, seaweed seeds were distributed to local fishing communities to encourage deep-water seaweed farming. Under the marine fauna component, finfish seeds were provided for cage-based cultivation using NIOT-designed open-sea cages capable of operating in high-energy marine environments.
Singh said the experience and data generated from the pilot could enable scaling up of open-sea aquaculture through public–private participation in the future, potentially expanding employment opportunities and strengthening the Blue Economy ecosystem.
As part of his visit, the minister also toured the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor, where he reviewed conservation efforts and observed the region’s coral reefs, mangroves and diverse marine biodiversity.
Officials said the project reflects the government’s intent to deploy scientific and technological interventions directly at the community level, integrating research, sustainability and livelihood development in coastal and island regions.
