{"id":81838,"date":"2026-08-18T18:00:38","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T12:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=81838"},"modified":"2026-08-18T18:40:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T13:10:54","slug":"blue-economy-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/editorial-analysis\/18-08-2026\/blue-economy-in-india","title":{"rendered":"Reviving Coastal Heritage For an Inclusive Blue Economy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The blue economy is gaining policy attention as India expands maritime infrastructure, fisheries, ocean technology and coastal development while seeking inclusive and sustainable growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Blue Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Blue Economy<\/strong> refers to the sustainable use of ocean and coastal resources for economic growth, livelihoods and ecological conservation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It covers fisheries and aquaculture, shipping and ports, coastal tourism, offshore renewable energy, marine biotechnology and emerging sectors such as deep-sea minerals.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For India, the ocean is both an economic opportunity and a livelihood base for millions of people.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has a <strong>11,098.81 km coastline (<\/strong>National Hydrographic Office<strong>), 13 major ports and an extensive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)<\/strong>, and <strong>nearly 35% of the population<\/strong> live within 100 km of the country&#8217;s coast line.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Significance of Blue Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Economic growth:<\/strong> Supports shipping, ports, fisheries, tourism and emerging ocean industries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Employment and livelihoods:<\/strong> Sustains fishing and coastal communities and creates new skilled jobs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Food and nutritional security:<\/strong> Fisheries and aquaculture provide affordable animal protein and livelihoods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Energy security:<\/strong> Offshore wind, tidal energy and ocean-based technologies can diversify the energy mix.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Climate resilience:<\/strong> Mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes provide important <strong>blue-carbon<\/strong> sinks and coastal protection.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic importance:<\/strong> Maritime infrastructure strengthens India&#8217;s role in the <strong>Indian Ocean Region (IOR)<\/strong> and global supply chains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cultural value:<\/strong> Traditional fishing practices, boat-building and maritime heritage preserve local knowledge and identity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>India&#8217;s Recent Steps &amp; Collaborations<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India has adopted a multi-dimensional approach through:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sagarmala Programme<\/strong> for port-led development, coastal connectivity and logistics efficiency.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Deep Ocean Mission<\/strong> for deep-sea exploration, ocean science, biodiversity and resource assessment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY)<\/strong> to modernise fisheries, strengthen infrastructure and improve fisher livelihoods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Blue Revolution and sustainable aquaculture initiatives<\/strong> to enhance productivity while reducing ecological pressure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)<\/strong>, with marine ecology, resources and disaster-risk reduction as important areas of cooperation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engagement through <strong>IORA<\/strong> and other Indian Ocean partnerships on sustainable fisheries, marine research and ocean governance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Global Efforts Related to Blue Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>UN Sustainable Development Goal 14<\/strong> promotes conservation and sustainable use of oceans. The <strong>UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021\u20132030)<\/strong> seeks better scientific knowledge for sustainable ocean management.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>BBNJ Agreement<\/strong> strengthens conservation of marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The <strong>World Bank&#8217;s PROBLUE programme<\/strong> and <strong>OECD work<\/strong> on sustainable ocean economies also emphasise investment, governance and inclusive growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Related Issues &amp; Concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rapid blue growth can become <strong>\u2018blue grabbing\u2019<\/strong> if ports, tourism and offshore projects displace small-scale fishers or restrict traditional access to coastal resources.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Other concerns include:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Overfishing and declining fish stocks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plastic and chemical pollution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coastal erosion, cyclones and sea-level rise.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Habitat destruction, including mangrove and coral degradation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unequal distribution of tourism and port revenues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Poor working conditions and abandonment risks for seafarers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gender inequality: women perform a major share of post-harvest fisheries work but remain underrepresented in maritime decision-making.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limited integration of traditional ecological knowledge into formal governance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Case Studies: India &amp; World<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Kumbalangi, Kerala:<\/strong> Community-based tourism around fishing traditions, coir-making and Chinese fishing nets demonstrates how local culture can generate supplementary livelihoods.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Chilika Lake, Odisha:<\/strong> Community participation in fisheries management and livelihood diversification illustrates the importance of balancing ecological conservation with fisher interests.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Seychelles:<\/strong> Marine protection combined with tourism demonstrates how visitor revenues can support ecosystem conservation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Zanzibar:<\/strong> Traditional dhow-building illustrates how maritime heritage can become a source of cultural tourism and artisan livelihoods.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Forward: Sustainable Blue Economy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India should move from a <strong>\u2018blue growth\u2019 to a \u2018blue regeneration\u2019<\/strong> model.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make coastal communities <strong>co-owners<\/strong>, not merely beneficiaries, through statutory representation in fisheries, tourism and port planning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Mandate <strong>local hiring and revenue-sharing<\/strong> in coastal projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern marine science.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expand <strong>ocean literacy, vocational training and reskilling<\/strong> in fishing districts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promote women-led fisheries enterprises, ecotourism and marine value chains.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Strengthen marine spatial planning, sustainable fisheries and ecosystem restoration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Recognise <strong>maritime heritage<\/strong> i.e. boat-building, museums, festivals and historic ports as an economic asset.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India&#8217;s blue economy can become an engine of <strong>inclusive growth, ecological security and maritime power<\/strong> only when coastal communities have a meaningful voice in shaping it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The objective should be not merely to extract greater value from the ocean, but to ensure that the ocean economy <strong>strengthens the people and ecosystems that have sustained it for generations<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#ebecf0\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Daily Mains Practice Question<\/strong><br><strong>[Q] <\/strong>Discuss the significance of coastal heritage in strengthening local economies, conserving traditional ecological knowledge and promoting community participation in ocean governance.&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.orfonline.org\/expert-speak\/the-sea-remembers-reviving-coastal-heritage-for-an-inclusive-blue-economy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source: ORF Online<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Daily-Editorial-Analysis-18-08-2026.pdf\"><strong>Download PDF<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Published on:<\/strong> 18 August, 2026<\/p>\n<p>The blue economy is gaining policy attention as India expands maritime infrastructure, fisheries, ocean technology and coastal development while seeking inclusive and sustainable growth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":81840,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-81838","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editorial-analysis"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/08\/blue-economy-in-india.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81838","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=81838"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81838\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81873,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81838\/revisions\/81873"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/81840"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=81838"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=81838"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=81838"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}