Blue Economy in India: Unlocking Maritime Potential for Sustainable and Inclusive Development

Blue Economy in India: Unlocking Maritime Potential for Sustainable and Inclusive Development

Dr. Nousheen sulthana

Associate professor, Department of Business Management, Kasturba Gandhi Degree &PG College for Women

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.914MG0079

Received: 09 May 2025; Accepted: 15 May 2025; Published: 26 May 2025

ABSTRACT

India’s vast maritime domain offers immense potential for economic growth, ecological sustainability, and social development through the Blue Economy. This paper explores the scope, need, sectoral progress, and challenges of the Blue Economy in India. A thorough literature review highlights both global and national perspectives. Drawing on secondary data and national reports, the study presents key findings on marine fisheries, renewable energy, coastal infrastructure and governance. It concludes with actionable policy suggestions for building an inclusive, climate-resilient, and innovation-driven maritime economy. The analysis underscores the strategic importance of integrating coastal community livelihoods, marine spatial planning, and ecosystem-based management into national development agendas. By aligning with SDG 14 and leveraging India’s geopolitical maritime advantage, the Blue Economy can drive long-term sustainability, regional cooperation, and blue growth leadership.

INTRODUCTION

India’s blue economy contributes approximately 4% to the nation’s GDP, encompassing sectors such as fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, tourism, and offshore oil and gas exploration. With a coastline of over 7,500 kilometers and an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 2.02 million square kilometers, India handles about 95% of its trade by volume through maritime routes. India, with a coastline of 7,517, holds immense potential for the development of the Blue Economy. It encompasses ocean-based economic activities that support sustainable development, such as fisheries, maritime transport, offshore energy, marine biotechnology, and coastal tourism. India’s Draft Blue Economy Policy and related initiatives like Sagarmala and the Deep Ocean Mission indicate a growing recognition of the strategic value of marine resources. Over 95% of India’s trade by volume and 68% by value is handled through maritime transport. Yet, the country’s ocean-based sectors are underutilized and face sustainability challenges. This paper seeks to explore the current status, potential, and necessary interventions to develop the Blue Economy in India, ensuring inclusive and environmentally responsible growth. As a developing economy with rising coastal population pressures and ecological vulnerabilities, India’s transition to a blue economic paradigm holds the promise of jobs, growth, and resilience.

Scope and Need of the Study

This study evaluates the Blue Economy in India through an interdisciplinary lens, covering marine fisheries, port and shipping infrastructure, coastal tourism, ocean renewable energy, and marine biotechnology. It also includes policy frameworks, livelihood impacts, and climate resilience. The analysis extends to understanding regional coastal disparities, investment flows in ocean-based sectors, and technological innovations

India’s growth trajectory is heavily reliant on its natural resources, yet coastal and marine ecosystems are often overlooked. With the ocean economy contributing approximately 4% to GDP and potential for exponential growth, prioritizing this sector is essential. Climate change poses significant threats to low-lying coastal zones, impacting millions who depend on marine livelihoods. Integrating sustainability into ocean economy planning can boost resilience and equity.

1. Economic Potential: The Economic Survey (2020) estimates the Blue Economy could contribute up to $1 trillion to India’s GDP by 2030.
2. Livelihood Dependence: Approximately 3.5 million people depend on marine fisheries, while indirect employment in coastal sectors exceeds 10 million.
3. Environmental Sustainability: Marine biodiversity is under threat due to overfishing, plastic pollution, oil spills, and habitat loss.
4. Climate Vulnerability: Coastal zones are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, cyclones, and coral bleaching.
5. Policy Coherence: A cohesive national policy is essential for inter-sectoral synergy and effective governance to bridge institutional silos.

Objectives of the Study

1. To examine India’s current Blue Economy sectors and their economic contribution.
2. To assess challenges related to sustainability, governance, and livelihood equity.
3. To suggest a roadmap for inclusive and ecologically sustainable Blue Economy development.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The Blue Economy is rapidly gaining prominence as nations around the world seek sustainable pathways to utilize marine resources while addressing ecological and social challenges. The World Bank (2017) conceptualizes the Blue Economy as the sustainable use of oceanic resources for fostering economic growth, enhancing livelihoods, and ensuring the health of marine ecosystems. This view strongly links ocean governance with global climate goals and poverty reduction strategies, promoting a holistic development framework.

Gunter Pauli (2010) brings a transformative lens to the discussion, envisioning a Blue Economy built on innovation and zero-waste principles. His model encourages industries to derive value from marine biodiversity through regenerative design, pushing for solutions that work in harmony with nature rather than exploit it. Pauli’s vision underscores the potential for ocean-based industries to lead the shift toward sustainability without sacrificing economic gains.

Yet, the path is not without complexities. Silver et al. (2015) stress that the Blue Economy is inherently political often entangled in competing interests and narratives. Their analysis reveals that striking a balance between ecological integrity and economic ambition remains a pressing challenge. They advocate for inclusive governance frameworks that respect the rights of local and indigenous communities, warning against exclusionary practices that marginalize those most dependent on marine ecosystems. Together, these global insights illuminate the potential and pitfalls of the Blue Economy, emphasizing the need for inclusive, innovative, and ecologically sound approaches to ocean resource management.

Indian perspectives: India, with its vast coastline and strategic maritime position, is increasingly acknowledging the importance of the Blue Economy in its development trajectory. NITI Aayog (2021), the government’s policy think tank, has outlined a comprehensive vision identifying key sectors such as sustainable fisheries, marine renewable energy, and port-led development as focal areas. The policy draft emphasizes the need for data-driven marine spatial planning, skill enhancement, and integrated governance mechanisms across ministries and sectors.The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI, 2022) highlights the stagnation of marine capture fisheries in India and calls for a shift toward sustainable aquaculture. It raises critical concerns regarding overfishing, bycatch, and the degradation of marine habitats, suggesting that aquaculture expansion must be both environmentally and socially sustainable to ensure long-term viability. Institutions like TERI (2022) are promoting the integration of circular economy principles into the design and management of coastal urban spaces. Their work underscores the importance of effective waste management and pollution control to protect coastal ecosystems, which are often vulnerable to urban expansion and industrial runoff. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) and the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) have been instrumental in advancing marine spatial planning and providing real-time data systems. These initiatives support more precise decision-making and foster sustainable exploitation of ocean resources through science-led governance.India’s approach to the Blue Economy thus reflects a growing recognition of the need to balance ecological stewardship with economic development. The challenge ahead lies in turning these policy visions into coordinated and inclusive actions on the ground.

SECTORAL ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS

Marine Fisheries and Aquaculture: India is the second-largest fish producer in the world, contributing 8% to global fish production. Marine capture stood at 4.12 million tonnes in 2022. Aquaculture dominates with over 65% share in total production.

Table 1: Marine Fish Landings by Major States (2022)

Ports and Maritime Trade: India handled 1,466 million tonnes of cargo in 2022, with Sagarmala improving port capacity. India boasts 12 major ports and more than 200 non-major ports, handling 1,466 million tonnes of cargo in 2023. The Sagarmala project aims to modernize ports and develop coastal economic zones, with an ambitious goal to reduce logistics costs from 14% to 9% of GDP, but they also support the livelihoods of millions through jobs in port operations, logistics, and shipping.

Table 2: Port Cargo Traffic at Major Ports (2022)

Coastal Tourism

Coastal tourism is a significant contributor to India’s GDP, with states like Goa, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu being major tourist destinations. Coastal states attract 30% of India’s foreign tourists, and there is substantial potential to develop eco-tourism, cultural heritage circuits, and adventure tourism.

However, unregulated infrastructure growth, waste disposal issues, and biodiversity threats have hindered the long-term sustainability of coastal tourism. Successful examples of community-led models, such as Kerala’s backwaters and eco-island tourism in the Andamans, suggest that sustainable tourism practices can be scaled.

Ocean Renewable Energy

India has an estimated offshore wind potential of 70 GW along Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts, but ocean renewable energy, including tidal, wave, and ocean thermal energy, remains underexplored. High technology costs and a lack of policy incentives have limited the sector’s growth.

Seaweed farming, a key component of the Blue Economy, holds potential for biofuels, food, and pharmaceuticals. Supporting the development of offshore wind and seaweed cultivation could significantly contribute to India’s renewable energy and climate goals.

Marine Biotechnology

Marine biotechnologies offer opportunities in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and nutraceuticals. The Seaweed Mission aims to achieve 1 million tonnes of seaweed production by 2025, fostering the growth of the marine biotechnology industry.

However, the sector faces challenges in terms of legal frameworks for bioprospecting and benefit-sharing. Protecting indigenous knowledge and ensuring equitable distribution of benefits will be crucial for the sustainable growth of marine biotechnology.

Governance Gaps

India’s Blue Economy suffers from fragmented governance structures, with various ministries handling fisheries, shipping, environment, and earth sciences. This fragmentation results in inefficiencies and conflicting policies. Moreover, inadequate enforcement of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules has led to coastal ecosystem degradation, including erosion and mangrove loss.The absence of a comprehensive marine spatial planning framework further exacerbates resource-use conflicts. Coastal communities often have limited participation in decision-making and access to social security mechanisms, increasing vulnerability.

These figures highlight the significant role of the Blue Economy in India’s employment landscape, underscoring the importance of sustainable development in marine and coastal sectors.

Source:

SUGGESTIONS AND POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Integrated Policy Framework: Establish a National Blue Economy Authority to coordinate inter-ministerial efforts and formulate unified strategies.
2. Capacity Building: Implement targeted training for coastal youth, women, and fishers in aquaculture, tourism, and renewable energy sectors.
3. Marine Spatial Planning: Develop comprehensive marine spatial planning to identify zones for conservation, industrial use, tourism, and fishing.
4. Eco-Friendly Infrastructure: Promote green port certifications, energy-efficient vessels, and electric coastal transport systems.
5. Financial Mechanisms: Launch Blue Bonds, CSR-backed marine funds, and climate finance channels to de-risk sustainable projects.
6. Sustainable Fisheries Management: Use satellite tracking and community-based management to enforce sustainable fishing practices.
7. Ocean Research and Innovation: Invest in marine R&D, deep-ocean exploration, and early-warning systems for climate resilience.
8. Inclusive Development: Ensure coastal communities have access to insurance, credit, and participatory decision-making processes.
9. Data Governance: Create a National Ocean Data Repository accessible to researchers, planners, and local stakeholders.

CONCLUSION

India stands at a pivotal juncture in leveraging its maritime assets to build a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven Blue Economy. With vast coastal access and rich marine biodiversity, the nation is uniquely positioned to emerge as a global leader in sustainable ocean development. Realizing this potential, however, demands urgent attention to challenges such as policy fragmentation, underinvestment in marine research and development (R&D), environmental degradation, and the persistent exclusion of coastal communities. A robust Blue Economy must be anchored in ecological stewardship, scientific innovation, and social equity. National initiatives such as the Deep Ocean Mission, Sagarmala Programme, and the Draft Blue Economy Policy have laid the groundwork for integrated growth. Yet, to be truly transformative, these frameworks must be scaled with participatory governance, financial innovation, and institutional reform. Ultimately, India’s maritime future must foster livelihood generation, blue infrastructure, ecosystem regeneration, and the empowerment of marginalized coastal populations.

REFERENCES

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