Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr Jitendra Singh, launched India’s first-ever open-sea Marine Fish Farming project in the Andaman Sea, marking a major milestone in harnessing the country’s vast ocean resources for economic growth. The project was inaugurated at North Bay, Vijaya Puram, during the Minister’s field visit to the open waters of the Andaman Sea.

Describing the initiative as a significant step towards realising the Blue Economy vision articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said the project represents one of the earliest and most impactful efforts to unlock the economic potential of India’s oceans. He noted that for decades after Independence, marine resources remained largely underexplored despite their immense and diverse potential.

The Minister underlined that since 2014, there has been a clear shift in national thinking, with greater recognition of the economic opportunities offered by India’s maritime domain. He highlighted that India’s western, southern and eastern seaboards each possess unique oceanographic characteristics, making marine-based development a critical pillar of the country’s future growth strategy.

The project is being implemented through a collaborative effort involving the Ministry of Earth Sciences, its technical arm the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Union Territory Administration of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The pilot initiative focuses on open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed under natural oceanic conditions, combining scientific innovation with livelihood generation for coastal communities.

During the launch, two livelihood-oriented interventions were initiated. Seaweed seeds were handed over to local fishing communities to promote deep-water seaweed cultivation, while finfish seeds were provided for cage-based farming using NIOT-developed open-sea cages designed to operate in challenging marine environments.

Dr Jitendra Singh said the experience gained from these government-led pilots would help assess feasibility for scaling up through public–private partnership models in the future, thereby expanding livelihoods and strengthening the Blue Economy ecosystem.

As part of his visit, the Minister also toured the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park near Wandoor, observing its rich marine biodiversity, including coral reefs, mangroves and diverse marine species. The launch at North Bay, he said, reflects the Government’s commitment to taking science and technology directly to the field and ensuring that island and coastal communities become active partners in India’s ocean-led development.