Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh flags off cage-based marine aquaculture at North Bay, calls it a major stride towards Blue Economy and livelihood empowerment of coastal communities
TFP Bureau, Raipur/New Delhi, January 19, 2026: In a landmark step towards harnessing India’s vast maritime potential, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, on Saturday launched the country’s first-ever open-sea Marine Fish Farming project in the Andaman Sea. The pioneering initiative was inaugurated at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram, during the Minister’s field visit to the open waters of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Describing the project as a historic milestone, Dr Jitendra Singh said it marks one of the earliest and most significant steps towards realising the Blue Economy vision envisioned and consistently emphasised by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He underlined that the initiative represents a paradigm shift in India’s approach to ocean-based development by combining advanced technology, scientific research and livelihood generation for coastal and island communities.
Addressing officials, scientists and members of the fishing community, the Minister observed that India’s oceans possess economic potential comparable to the Himalayas and the mainland, but remained largely neglected for nearly seven decades after Independence. He said that since 2014, there has been a decisive change in national thinking, with renewed recognition of the strategic, economic and ecological importance of India’s maritime domain.
Dr Jitendra Singh highlighted the diversity of India’s ocean resources, noting that the western, eastern and southern seaboards have distinct ecological and economic characteristics. He said this diversity offers immense opportunities for region-specific marine activities, including fisheries, aquaculture, biotechnology and eco-tourism, which can collectively drive sustainable growth.
The project is being implemented through a collaborative framework involving the Ministry of Earth Sciences, its technical arm the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Union Territory Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The pilot focuses on open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed under natural oceanic conditions, using advanced cage technology developed by NIOT.
As part of the launch, two major livelihood-oriented interventions were initiated. Under the marine flora component, seaweed seeds were handed over to local fishermen to promote deep-sea seaweed farming. Under the marine fauna component, finfish seeds were provided for cage-based cultivation in open waters, supported by robust NIOT-designed cages capable of withstanding natural ocean conditions.
The Minister said these interventions are aimed at empowering traditional fishing communities by providing them with new income opportunities, reducing pressure on near-shore resources, and ensuring sustainable utilisation of marine wealth. He added that while the current initiative is government-led, the knowledge and experience gained could pave the way for scaling up through public–private partnership models in the future, thereby accelerating growth and investment in the Blue Economy sector.
During his visit, Dr Jitendra Singh also toured the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor, one of India’s earliest marine parks established in 1983. Spread across 15 islands, the park is known for its rich coral reefs, mangroves and diverse marine life, including turtles and numerous fish species. The Minister reviewed conservation efforts and stressed the need to balance economic development with ecological preservation.
Officials said the launch of open-sea marine fish farming from North Bay reflects the Government of India’s commitment to taking science and technology directly to the field. By integrating innovation with community participation, the initiative aims to make coastal and island populations active stakeholders in India’s ocean-led economic growth while promoting sustainable and resilient livelihoods.
