Source: PIB
Subject: Environment
Context: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially designated the Bhavasagara Referral Centre at CMLRE, Kochi, as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
About Bhavasagara Referral Centre:
What It Is?
- The Bhavasagara Referral Centre is a specialized scientific hub and India’s newly designated National Repository dedicated to the preservation, study, and documentation of deep-sea marine life. It serves as a centralized custody center for deep-sea specimens and their associated genetic data.
Parent Organisation: The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala.
Ministry: Functions under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
Statutory Recognition: Officially designated as a National Repository on March 30, 2026, by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002.
Aim:
- The primary objective of the centre is to provide a foundational resource for ocean scientists to unlock the mysteries of the deep sea while strengthening India’s blue economy and marine biodiversity framework.
- It aims to foster expertise in deep-sea taxonomy in alignment with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).
Key Features:
- Extensive Collection: Houses over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens.
- Diverse Biological Range: The collection includes invertebrates (cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, echinoderms) and vertebrates (elasmobranchs and teleostean fishes).
- Secure Custody: Authorized to preserve representative biological samples along with critical data such as DNA sequences for future reference.
- Custodian of New Species: Acts as the official repository for any new deep-sea species discovered within Indian waters (Type Specimens).
- Scientific Hub: Provides a centralized platform for researchers and academic institutions to access deep-sea natural history.
Significance:
- Marks a significant leap in India’s ability to protect and document its deep-sea biological heritage.
- Provides the scientific data necessary to support sustainable economic growth related to ocean resources.
