Union Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh inaugurated India’s first open-sea marine fish farming project on Sunday in the Andaman Sea. The pilot targets seabass and cobia farming in ocean cages, marking a key step in harnessing the country’s vast maritime potential.

Singh travelled by boat for nearly an hour from Sri Vijaya Puram to North Bay, where he launched the project at 10:30 AM. “This is a giant initiative to tap India’s enormous unexplored maritime wealth,” he posted on X. The venture involves collaboration between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands administration.

The project features NIOT-designed open-sea cages for rearing high-value white-fleshed fish, alongside experimental seaweed cultivation. During the event, Singh distributed seaweed seeds under a marine flora programme and finfish seeds under a marine fauna initiative to local fishing communities.

Seabass and Cobia in Ocean Cages

Seabass and cobia, prized for their rich flavour, will be cultured in cages engineered for natural oceanic conditions. NIOT has prior experience with demonstrations in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, successfully farming these species along with pompano and milkfish.

The pilot also promotes seaweed farming in deep waters, offering sustainable livelihoods to coastal fishers. This dual approach addresses both marine fauna and flora, building on NIOT’s technical expertise.

Tapping India’s Maritime Potential

Singh highlighted a “fundamental shift” in national thinking since 2014. “For nearly 70 years after Independence, ocean resources remained largely underexplored,” he said. India’s Blue Economy contributes about 4% to GDP, with maritime routes handling 95% of trade by volume.

The government sees offshore aquaculture as a route to economic diversification and jobs for coastal communities. This project positions India to exploit its 7,500 km coastline and exclusive economic zone more effectively.

Future Expansion via Public-Private Partnerships

While government-led, the pilot will assess feasibility for scaling through public-private partnerships. A Port News report described it as a technical and economic test case for commercial offshore aquaculture.

Post-launch, Singh visited Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor, observing coral reefs, mangroves, and marine biodiversity in one of India’s earliest marine parks, established in 1983.

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