Blue Economy

The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. It encompasses all economic activities that take place in, or are supported by, the ocean — including fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, offshore energy, maritime tourism, seabed mining, and blue carbon ecosystems like mangroves and seagrasses.

• 1 India's Blue Economy contributes about 4% of GDP with significant potential for growth
• 2 Deep Ocean Mission (2021) — Rs 4,077 crore over 5 years; aims for seabed mining, deep-sea biodiversity, and manned submersible deployment (Matsya 6000 — can dive to 6,000 m)
• 3 Sagarmala Programme — port-led development along India's 7,516 km coastline
• 4 India's EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) extends to 200 nautical miles from the baseline
• 5 UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 — Life Below Water — directly relates to Blue Economy principles
• 6 Blue Carbon refers to CO2 sequestered by coastal ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, salt marshes) — India has significant mangrove coverage (~4,992 sq km)
• 7 OSOWOG (One Sun One World One Grid) and offshore wind energy are emerging Blue Economy sectors
• 8 IndARC — India's moored observatory in the Arctic Ocean — supports ocean research under polar governance

The Matsya 6000 submersible, developed under the Deep Ocean Mission, will allow India to explore polymetallic nodules — rich in manganese, cobalt, nickel, and copper — in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, where India has exclusive rights to explore 75,000 sq km of seabed.