India’s Blue Economy

Syllabus: GS3/Economy 

In News

• The fisheries sector is an important pillar of the Blue Economy in India providing nearly three crore livelihoods and enhancing production, exports and coastal development. 

Background 

• The economic philosophy of the Blue Economy was first introduced in 1994 by Professor Gunter Pauli at the United Nations University (UNU) as a sustainable development approach that seeks to generate economic growth while reducing waste, emissions, and environmental damage.
• It gained global importance after the Rio+20 Summit (2012) and the adoption of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14, which promotes the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and marine resources.

Blue Economy 

• It is the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while at the same time safeguarding the health of the ocean ecosystem.
• In India, it includes marine resources and infrastructure, balancing economic development, environmental protection and national security. These include sustainable fishing and aquaculture, offshore wind energy and other renewable marine energy sources.

Importance of blue economy in India

• Economic growth and trade:  The blue economy contributes substantially to India’s GDP
  • Nearly 95% of India’s trade by volume and around 70% by value is handled through ports
  • Better ports, shipping, and marine industry will boost exports and the economy.
• Jobs:  Fisheries and related activities provide livelihoods for some 30 million people.
  • Jobs and less poverty in rural areas can be created by the fishing, tourism, processing, and skills development industries.
• Food Security: Fish provide a significant amount of protein and nutrients.
• Blue carbon & climate resilience: Mangroves and seagrasses are coastal ecosystems that store carbon and protect coastlines from storms, erosion, and the impacts of climate change. 
• Security and Sovereignty: A strong blue economy safeguards India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and offshore assets and therefore strengthens India’s maritime security.
  • It also fosters better regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean and increases India’s strategic reach through investments in ports, deep-sea technology, and maritime infrastructure.

Challenges 

• Environmental Degradation: Marine biodiversity and fish stocks are threatened by overfishing, industrial runoff, coastal erosion, and increasing ocean plastic pollution.
• Climate Vulnerability: Higher sea levels, warmer oceans, and more frequent tropical cyclones have a direct impact on coastal communities, port infrastructure, and traditional fishing operations.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Fragmented cold chains, ageing fishing fleets, and limited shipbuilding and repair capacity are all holding back high-value exports and deep-sea exploitation.
• Governance and financing: The ocean domain is governed by many ministries, often resulting in regulatory overlap.
  • In addition, private sector investments and innovative financing such as blue bonds are still to be explored.

Various Steps 

• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) : India’s fisheries sector has been given a boost by the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). 
  • The Government reiterated its commitment to the sector by allocating a record ₹ 2,500 crore under PMMSY in BE 2026-27. 
  • Fish production went up from 141.64 lakh tonnes in 2019-20 to a record 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. 
  • The sector has shown good growth. Fisheries exports increased from ₹46,663 crore in 2019-20 to ₹73,890 crore in 2025-26. 
  • The scheme has generated employment for 58 lakh persons in fisheries and aquaculture-related activities.
  •  It also approved ₹2,797 crore for cold-chain and marketing infrastructure, improving post-harvest management and connectivity to the markets. 
• Deep Ocean Mission was launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with an aim to develop technologies for exploring and sustainably utilizing the deep ocean’s living and non-living wealth.
  • India launched the Samudrayaan Project- under the umbrella of the Deep Ocean Mission- to work on its first component of deep-sea exploration through a manned submersible.
  • MATSYA 6000, a self-propelled manned submersible capable of transporting three individuals to depths of up to 6,000 meters beneath the ocean surface, is being developed under this project
• Sagarmala Programme: Launched in 2015, the Sagarmala Programme is a flagship initiative to modernise India’s maritime sector by harnessing its long coastline and inland waterways.
  • Its goal is to cut logistics costs, upgrade port infrastructure, increase trade, create jobs, and foster sustainable coastal development via port-led growth. 
  • It is one of the key pillars of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, to support India’s ambition to develop world-class ports, shipping, and waterways and emerge as a leading global maritime power by 2047.
• Blue Revolution: The Blue Revolution, launched in 2015, seeks to increase fish production and strengthen the fisheries value chain across inland and marine sectors by enhancing productivity, expanding infrastructure, and promoting modern practices.

Conclusion 

• India’s blue economy has huge potential for economic growth, employment, clean energy, and coastal resilience. However, sustainable development of the industry requires cooperation between the government, industries, and local communities, as well as responsible use of marine resources. 
• Thus, the blue economy could be an important pillar for India’s sustainable development and future growth.

Source: PIB