GS-3: Science and Technology- Developments and their Applications and Effects in Everyday Life.

Key phrases: Forecast services, Field installations, Technology demonstrations, Blue Economy , deep sea mining , early warning system for disasters ,SDG-14

Why in news:

• Cabinet approved the continuation of the umbrella scheme "Ocean Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)" of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, for implementation during the period from 2021-26.

• The present decade has been declared as the Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development by the United Nations (UN).

Analysis:

• Oceanic research and development in India was initiated by the Department of Ocean Development (DoD), which was set up in 1981.

• DoD was later merged to Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)

• O-SMART encompasses seven sub-schemes:

• Ocean Technology

• Ocean Modelling and Advisory Services (OMAS)

• Ocean Observation Network (OON)

• Ocean Non-Living Resources

• Marine Living Resources and Ecology (MLRE)

• Coastal Research and Operation and Maintenance of Research Vessels

● The umbrella scheme O-SMART is projected to cost Rs. 2177 crore in the next five years (2021-26).

Who implements the above schemes?

Different autonomous/attached institutes of the Ministry of Earth Sciences implement these schemes. (For example NIOT, INCOIS, NCPOR)

Objectives of O-SMART

• provide forecast and services based on the continuous observation of our oceans

• development of technologies and exploratory surveys for sustainable harnessing of our oceanic resources (both living and non-living)

• promotion of front-ranking research in ocean sciences

Achievements of O-SMART

• India has been recognised as Pioneer Investor with International Seabed Authority (ISA) for conducting extensive research on deep sea mining of Poly Metallic Nodules (PMN) and hydrothermal sulphides in the allotted area of the Indian Ocean.

• The technology development for desalination using low temperature thermal desalination installation of this facility in Lakshadweep islands.

• India's ocean related activities are now extended from the Arctic to the Antarctic region covering large ocean space.

• India has a leadership role in implementing the Indian Ocean component of the Global Ocean Observing System.

• The observation network, including both moored and drifters' types, provide ocean forecast services for potential fishing ground and warning for storm surge associated with cyclone and Tsunami.

• A state-of-the-art early warning system for oceanic disasters viz. tsunami, storm surges, has been established at INCOIS, Hyderabad.

• Assessment of living resources in the EEZ and deep ocean of India for marine ecosystem for conservation and protection of Marine Biodiversity.

Related information:

• The International Seabed Authority (ISA), an autonomous international organisation established under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, allots the ‘area’ for deep-sea mining.

• India was the first country to receive the status of a ‘Pioneer Investor‘ in 1987 and was given an area of about 1.5 lakh sq. km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) for nodule exploration.

• In 2002, India signed a contract with the ISA and after complete resource analysis of the seabed 50% was surrendered and the country retained an area of 75,000 sq. km.

Blue Economy

• Any conceptualization of the Blue Economy has to be multidimensional and inter-sectoral. Second, there is no universally agreed definition of the term Blue Economy. Therefore, it is critical that each country should define its parameters in its own context.

• The MoES prepared the draft blue economy policy framework in line with the Government of India’s Vision of New India by 2030. It highlighted the blue economy as one of the ten core dimensions for national growth. The draft policy framework recognizes the following seven thematic areas.

• National accounting framework for the blue economy and ocean governance.

• Coastal marine spatial planning and tourism.
• Marine fisheries, aquaculture, and fish processing.

• Manufacturing, emerging industries, trade, technology, services, and skill development.

• Logistics, infrastructure and shipping, including trans-shipments.
• Coastal and deep-sea mining and offshore energy.

• Security, strategic dimensions, and international engagement.

Way forward

• The continuation of the scheme would contribute significantly towards national policy on the blue economy for effective and efficient use of the vast ocean resources in a sustainable way.

• Efforts towards achieving United Nations Sustainable Development Goal-14 to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources are being covered through the coastal research and marine biodiversity activities.

• The scheme can further leverage cutting edge marine technology to conserve oceanic biodiversity, and better understand coastal processes.

In this era of advanced technology, oceans will become new centers of economic activity. Oceans already account for significant trade and commerce in the fields of shipping, offshore oil and gas, fishing, undersea cables, and tourism. Besides these areas, there are other emerging industries such as aquaculture, marine biotechnology, ocean energy and sea-bed mining that have the potential to create jobs and spur worldwide economic growth.

Source: PIB