PANAJI
The potential for fishing, especially deep Ocean fishing, is under-exploited vis-a-vis the exploitable marine resources available, according to Shailesh Nayak, a senior scientist who was delivering a public lecture on 'Blue Economy' at NIO's 60th Foundation Day celebrations on Friday.
"Of the species-specific forecast of the potential for tuna, only 12% of it is harvested," said Nayak, who heads the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bengaluru and has also been interim chairman of ISRO in the past.
To make fishing more efficient, Nayak said technology is now developed to identify areas that have high levels of the algal blooming phenomenon where the catch is doomed to be poor.
"Satellite-based advisories depending upon availability of food (Chlorophyll) and environmental conditions and currents are dished out daily," Dr Nayak said, adding that these are disseminated to the fishing community in local languages and also through the internet and apps.
India's potential yield estimates are 5.31 million tonnes and fishery accounts for only 3.8 million tonnes even as 91% of the fish stock is healthy and 87% is sustainable in India waters, he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Nayak said harvesting freshwater from the sea could be the next big thing in India's blue economy with two low temperature desalination based plants in Lakshwadeep in operation.
Six more plants are under construction and these could be replicated along the coast, he said as costs are as low as 10 paise per litre.
Dr Nayak also said that off-shore plants will now be experimented with a project report of a 10 MLD capacity plant already prepared.
Harnessing ocean energy would be critical as the industrial world is increasingly on the lookout for 'clean energy' to replace the traditional fossil fuels, he said adding that off-shore wind energy farms is another area of potential.
Earlier, chief scientist at CSIR-NIO Dr Sanil Kumar underscored the growing importance of oceans in both the global and Indian economy, particularly in relation to the blue economy.
“The oceans will play an increasingly vital role in both the global and Indian economy, especially in terms of the blue economy. With climate change impacting ecosystems, it is essential that we continue to deepen our understanding of these shifts and their effects on biodiversity. Our work has never been more crucial and we remain committed to advancing scientific research to address these pressing challenges,” he said.
Kumar said, NIO marks six decades of advancements in ocean sciences and technology and on the occasion of the diamond jubilee appreciate our achievements and look to future challenges and opportunities.
Secretary Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), New Delhi, Dr Ravichandran also delivered a lecture on the challenges and opportunities of the Oceans and director general of CSIR, Dr N Kalaiselvi presided over the celebrations.
