Reviving Coastal Heritage For an Inclusive Blue Economy

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• The blue economy is gaining policy attention as India expands maritime infrastructure, fisheries, ocean technology and coastal development while seeking inclusive and sustainable growth.

About Blue Economy

• The Blue Economy refers to the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth, livelihoods and ecological conservation.
• It covers fisheries and aquaculture, shipping and ports, coastal tourism, offshore renewable energy, marine biotechnology and emerging sectors such as deep-sea minerals.
• For India, the ocean is both an economic opportunity and a livelihood base for millions of people.
  • India has a 11,098.81 km coastline (National Hydrographic Office), 13 major ports and an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and nearly 35% of the population live within 100 km of the country’s coast line.

Significance of Blue Economy

• Economic growth: Supports shipping, ports, fisheries, tourism and emerging ocean industries.
• Employment and livelihoods: Sustains fishing and coastal communities and creates new skilled jobs.
• Food and nutritional security: Fisheries and aquaculture provide affordable animal protein and livelihoods.
• Energy security: Offshore wind, tidal energy and ocean-based technologies can diversify the energy mix.
• Climate resilience: Mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes provide important blue-carbon sinks and coastal protection.
• Strategic importance: Maritime infrastructure strengthens India’s role in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and global supply chains.
• Cultural value: Traditional fishing practices, boat-building and maritime heritage preserve local knowledge and identity.

India’s Recent Steps & Collaborations

• India has adopted a multi-dimensional approach through:
  • Sagarmala Programme for port-led development, coastal connectivity and logistics efficiency.
  • Deep Ocean Mission for deep-sea exploration, ocean science, biodiversity and resource assessment.
  • Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to modernise fisheries, strengthen infrastructure and improve fisher livelihoods.
  • Blue Revolution and sustainable aquaculture initiatives to enhance productivity while reducing ecological pressure.
  • Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), with marine ecology, resources and disaster-risk reduction as important areas of cooperation.
  • Engagement through IORA and other Indian Ocean partnerships on sustainable fisheries, marine research and ocean governance.

Global Efforts Related to Blue Economy

• The UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 promotes conservation and sustainable use of oceans. The UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021–2030) seeks better scientific knowledge for sustainable ocean management.
  • The BBNJ Agreement strengthens conservation of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.
• The World Bank’s PROBLUE programme and OECD work on sustainable ocean economies also emphasise investment, governance and inclusive growth.

Related Issues & Concerns

• Rapid blue growth can become ‘blue grabbing’ if ports, tourism and offshore projects displace small-scale fishers or restrict traditional access to coastal resources.
• Other concerns include:
  • Overfishing and declining fish stocks.
  • Plastic and chemical pollution.
  • Coastal erosion, cyclones and sea-level rise.
  • Habitat destruction, including mangrove and coral degradation.
  • Unequal distribution of tourism and port revenues.
  • Poor working conditions and abandonment risks for seafarers.
  • Gender inequality: women perform a major share of post-harvest fisheries work but remain underrepresented in maritime decision-making.
  • Limited integration of traditional ecological knowledge into formal governance.

Case Studies: India & World

• Kumbalangi, Kerala: Community-based tourism around fishing traditions, coir-making and Chinese fishing nets demonstrates how local culture can generate supplementary livelihoods.
• Chilika Lake, Odisha: Community participation in fisheries management and livelihood diversification illustrates the importance of balancing ecological conservation with fisher interests.
• Seychelles: Marine protection combined with tourism demonstrates how visitor revenues can support ecosystem conservation.
• Zanzibar: Traditional dhow-building illustrates how maritime heritage can become a source of cultural tourism and artisan livelihoods.

Way Forward: Sustainable Blue Economy

• India should move from a ‘blue growth’ to a ‘blue regeneration’ model.
• Make coastal communities co-owners, not merely beneficiaries, through statutory representation in fisheries, tourism and port planning.
• Mandate local hiring and revenue-sharing in coastal projects.
• Integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern marine science.
• Expand ocean literacy, vocational training and reskilling in fishing districts.
• Promote women-led fisheries enterprises, ecotourism and marine value chains.
• Strengthen marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries and ecosystem restoration.
• Recognise maritime heritage i.e. boat-building, museums, festivals and historic ports as an economic asset.

Conclusion

• India’s blue economy can become an engine of inclusive growth, ecological security and maritime power only when coastal communities have a meaningful voice in shaping it.
• The objective should be not merely to extract greater value from the ocean, but to ensure that the ocean economy strengthens the people and ecosystems that have sustained it for generations.

Source: ORF Online