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Odisha Charts New Course for Blue Economy
16 Apr
Summary
- Odisha inks MoU for marine spatial planning to boost blue economy.
- Initiative balances economic activities with biodiversity conservation.
- Norway supports Odisha's sustainable ocean planning collaboration.
Odisha's government has signed a memorandum of understanding to establish marine spatial planning (MSP), a crucial step for scientific planning along its extensive coastline.
This initiative, a collaboration between the state's science and technology department and the National Centre for Coastal Research, aims to strengthen the blue economy. It seeks to integrate various sectoral activities, including fisheries, shipping, tourism, and aquaculture, with the vital need for marine biodiversity conservation.
The MSP is designed to foster economic growth while ensuring environmental sustainability and building resilient coastal communities. It prioritizes balancing development needs with the protection of ecologically sensitive marine zones. Norway has pledged full support to this endeavor, emphasizing technology-driven resource management.
This move aligns with India's broader Sustainable Ocean Planning initiative, which began in 2019. Following its implementation in Puducherry and Lakshadweep, Odisha is the first state to advance this planning in its second phase. The state also launched the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor last August to further bolster marine biotechnology for environmental and economic benefits.
