Source: TI
Subject: Mapping
Context: India has launched its first open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman Sea, marking a major step in advancing the Blue Economy through science-led, livelihood-oriented utilisation of ocean resources.
About First open-sea Marine Fish Farming Project in Andaman Sea:
What it is?
- India’s first pilot open-sea aquaculture initiative involving marine finfish and seaweed farming in natural oceanic conditions using indigenously developed open-sea cages and marine technologies.
Located in
- North Bay, near Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman Sea.
- Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Implementing agencies
- Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) & National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
Aim: To unlock ocean-based economic potential, generate sustainable coastal livelihoods, and build technical feasibility for scaling open-sea aquaculture under India’s Blue Economy vision.
Key features
- Open-sea finfish farming using NIOT-designed cages resilient to natural ocean conditions.
- Deep-water seaweed cultivation with seed distribution to local fishers.
- Livelihood-centric pilot integrating science, technology, and community participation.
- PPP-ready model for future scale-up based on feasibility and field experience.
- Strengthens marine food security, employment, and coastal resilience.
About Andaman Sea:
What it is
- The Andaman Sea is a marginal sea of the northeastern Indian Ocean, historically significant for trade and strategically important for maritime connectivity and regional ecology.
Located in: The Andaman Sea is located in the north-eastern Indian Ocean, adjoining South-East Asia.
Bordering: Irrawaddy River delta, Myanmar and Thailand, Sumatra (Indonesia) and the Strait of Malacca.
Key features:
- Large marginal sea (~7.98 lakh sq km): The Andaman Sea forms a vast part of the north-eastern Indian Ocean, providing significant space for ocean circulation, sediment deposition, and marine resource utilisation.
- Andaman–Nicobar Ridge (active subduction zone): It lies along a tectonically active boundary where the Indian Plate subducts beneath the Burma microplate, shaping the region’s seismic and volcanic characteristics.
- Deep submarine valleys (>4,400 m): The sea contains deep oceanic trenches and valleys formed by tectonic movement, making parts of it among the deepest zones in the eastern Indian Ocean.
- Shallow northern continental shelf: Extensive sediment deposition from the Irrawaddy River has created a relatively shallow seabed in the north, influencing salinity, turbidity, and marine habitats.
