This policy outlines the Indian government's approach to marine ecosystem studies and sustainable fisheries management along the Odisha coast. Several national institutions, including those under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) such as the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information and Services (INCOIS), and others, conduct marine research in the region. These efforts encompass monitoring sea level changes using tide gauges installed by INCOIS, assessing seawater quality through the NCCR's Seawater Quality Monitoring (SWQM) program (collecting salinity and biological data up to 5km from the coast at transects off Gopalpur, Chilka Lake, Paradip, and Dhamra), and collaborative research projects with local institutions like Berhampur University and the Chilika Development Authority.
The policy highlights rising sea levels, with the Indian Ocean experiencing an increase of 1.7 mm/year during 1900-2000, accelerating to 3.3 mm/year in the North Indian Ocean from 1993-2015. Data from Paradip indicates a rise of 4.43 mm/year based on satellite altimeter data from 1993-2020.
Sustainable fisheries management is addressed through the "National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017" and the implementation of fishing bans during breeding seasons. A fishing ban is enforced annually from April 15th to June 15th along the east coast, including Odisha. The Government of Odisha also regulates fishing activities through the Orissa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1981.
The MoES funds marine research projects at Odisha-based institutions, including projects at the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Rourkela, focusing on bacterial biofilm communities and their potential for bioremediation, and at the Institute of Life Sciences, Bhubaneshwar, exploring marine ecosystems for bioresources.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, provided this information to the Rajya Sabha.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Earth Sciences: The Indian government ministry responsible for marine research through its various institutes.
Odisha: A state on the eastern coast of India, focus of marine ecosystem studies mentioned in the policy text.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information and Services INCOIS: An autonomous organization under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, involved in monitoring sea level changes.
National Centre for Coastal Research NCCR: An institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, involved in seawater quality monitoring along the Odisha coast.
National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017: A policy document by the Department of Fisheries, Government of India, providing guiding principles for sustainable fisheries management.
Department of Fisheries DoF: A department of the Government of India responsible for fisheries and aquaculture.
Orissa Marine Fisheries Regulation Act, 1981: An act by the Government of Odisha regulating fishing activities in the state's territorial waters.
Dr. Jitendra Singh: Union Minister of State Independent Charge for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences
Ministry of Earth Sciences
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: Marine ecosystem
studies on Odisha coast
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 3:56PM by PIB Delhi
The institutes involved in marine research under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) are (i) National Centre for
Coastal Research (NCCR), (ii) Indian National Centre for Ocean Information and Services (INCOIS), (iii)
National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) (iv) Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE)
and (v) National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR).
In addition, other research institutes such as (i) National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)
under Ministry of Environment and Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), (ii) National Institute of
Oceanography (NIO) under Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and (iii) Central Marine
Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) under Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) are engaged in
marine research.
INCOIS has installed tide gauges all along the Indian coast, including Odisha coast to monitor sea level changes
for forewarning the occurrences of Tsunami/storm surges. Sea level in the Indian Ocean rose at 1.7 mm/year
during 1900–2000, accelerating to 3.3 mm/year in the North Indian Ocean from 1993–2015. Recent studies
show significant variation along the Indian coastline. At Paradip, based on the gridded satellite altimeter data
(1993–2020) indicate a rise of 4.43 mm/year. Under the Seawater Quality Monitoring (SWQM) program by
NCCR, the salinity data is being collected along the Odisha coast for four transects (off-Gopalpur, off-Chilka
Lake, off-Paradip and off-Dhamra) upto 5km from the coast including other biological parameters. The
'National Policy on Marine Fisheries, 2017 notified by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), Government of India,
provides guiding principles for conservation and optimum utilization of fisheries resources for ensuring
sustainability. Department of Fisheries, Government of India is implementing fishing ban in India’s EEZ along
the east and west coast during the major breeding season of the commercial fish species to ensure successful
spawning and for sustaining the fisheries. On the east coast, including the coasts of Odisha, the fishing ban is
implemented annually from April 15th to June 15th. The Government of Odisha, through the Orissa Marine
Fisheries Regulation Act, 1981, also regulates fishing activities in the state's territorial waters to support the
sustainable management of fisheries along the Odisha coast.
NCCR through MoES undertakes need based collaborative research with local institutions like Berhampur
University, Berhampur, CSIR-IMMT, Bhubaneswar, Chilika Development Authority (CDA), Bhubaneswar
under various projects, such as seawater quality monitoring, ecosystem modelling, shoreline change studies, and
pollution assessments etc. In addition, the following projects have been funded by Ministry of Earth Sciences to
carry out the marine research by Odisha institute/universities.
S.No. Project Title Affiliation.
Understanding the marine bacterial
biofilm community structure and National Institute of
1 harnessing the extracellular polymeric Technology (NIT),
substances (EPS) of biofilm for Rourkela, Odisha
bioremediation and bioprospecting"
'Exploring the Marine Ecosystems for
ILS (Institute of Life
2. Novel Bioresources with Human Health
Sciences) Bhubaneshwar
and Industrial Significance'.This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science
and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, MoS Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of
Atomic Energy and Department of Space, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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NKR/PSM/AV
(Release ID: 2153572)