The Untapped Potential of India’s Maritime Frontier
India’s 7,517-kilometer coastline, bordered by the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean, represents not just a geographical feature but an economic and ecological frontier poised to drive the nation’s next growth phase. The “Blue Economy”—sustainable use of ocean resources for economic development, livelihoods, and ecosystem health—has emerged as a national priority with the potential to contribute $1 trillion to India’s GDP by 2047.
Defining India’s Blue Economy Vision
In September 2025, NITI Aayog released a comprehensive report “India’s Blue Economy,” articulating a framework that encompasses seven pillars:
- Fisheries and Aquaculture: Sustainable harvest and cultivation of marine life
- Marine Manufacturing: Shipbuilding, ship-repair, and offshore structures
- Tourism and Recreation: Coastal and marine tourism
- Marine Biotechnology: Pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and industrial enzymes from marine organisms
- Marine Renewable Energy: Offshore wind, tidal, wave, and ocean thermal energy
- Seabed Mining: Extraction of rare earth elements and minerals from deep ocean floors
- Maritime Transport and Logistics: Ports, shipping, and coastal connectivity
The January 2026 IADB report “The Blue Frontier: Shaping The Next Decade Of Growth” positions oceans as India’s strategic asset for achieving climate resilience, food security, and energy independence simultaneously.
The Ocean as Living Crucible
India’s marine ecosystems harbor extraordinary biodiversity—over 4,600 fish species, 400+ coral species, marine mammals including whales and dolphins, sea turtles, and countless invertebrates and microorganisms. This biodiversity provides:
Ecosystem Services: Mangroves protect coastlines from storms and erosion while serving as nurseries for commercial fish species. Coral reefs support tourism and fisheries while buffering wave energy. Salt marshes sequester carbon at rates exceeding terrestrial forests.
Genetic Resources: Marine organisms produce unique compounds adapted to extreme pressures, temperatures, and chemical environments. These biochemicals offer potential for cancer treatments, anti-inflammatory drugs, and industrial enzymes. India’s marine bioprospecting sector, though nascent, could generate ₹50,000 crores annually by 2035.
Food Security: Marine fisheries employ 4 million people and contribute 1.24% of GDP. Fish protein is critical for nutrition security in coastal states, providing 60% of animal protein intake in some regions.
However, Indian marine biodiversity faces severe threats: overfishing has depleted 60% of commercial stocks, coastal pollution degrades habitats, and climate change causes coral bleaching and species migration.
Fisheries and Aquaculture
India is the second-largest fish producer globally (14.2 million tonnes in 2024), with marine fisheries contributing 3.72 million tonnes. Yet the sector operates below potential:
Deep-Sea Fishing Deficit: While India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends 2.37 million sq km, 90% of fishing occurs within 50 meters depth. Deep-sea resources (tuna, squid, oceanic sharks) remain largely unharvested. The October 2025 NITI Aayog report “India’s Blue Economy: Strategy for Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries” outlines investment in deep-sea vessels, cold-chain infrastructure, and sustainable harvesting protocols.
Aquaculture Expansion: Marine aquaculture (shrimp, finfish, seaweed) grows at 8% annually, driven by global seafood demand. Seaweed farming, virtually absent in 2020, now spans 12,000 hectares off Tamil Nadu and Gujarat coasts, producing agar, carrageenan, and biofuel feedstock.
Sustainability Challenge: The tragedy of the commons threatens marine resources. Illegal fishing, destructive trawling, and inadequate enforcement have collapsed several fisheries. The 2023 Marine Fishing Regulation Act aims to restore stocks through seasonal closures, mesh-size regulations, and marine protected areas—but implementation remains patchy.
Non-Living Resources
Offshore Wind Energy: India’s offshore wind potential exceeds 70 GW along Gujarat and Tamil Nadu coasts. The world’s largest offshore wind farm is planned off Gujarat (30 GW capacity), scheduled for commissioning in phases from 2027-2035. This single project could power 40 million homes while reducing CO2 emissions by 60 million tonnes annually.
Tidal and Wave Energy: The Gulf of Khambhat and Gulf of Kutch offer tidal energy potential of 8,000 MW. Pilot wave energy projects off Kerala and West Bengal demonstrate 1-2 MW capacity. While costs currently exceed solar and onshore wind, technology improvements and scale could make ocean energy competitive by 2030.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): Temperature differences between surface and deep ocean waters can generate electricity. India’s tropical location makes OTEC viable, with pilot projects exploring this 24/7 baseload renewable source.
Seabed Mining: India holds exploration rights for 75,000 sq km of seabed in the Central Indian Ocean Basin, rich in polymetallic nodules containing manganese, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements—critical for batteries and electronics. First commercial extraction could begin by 2030, though environmental concerns about deep-sea habitat destruction require cautious, regulated approaches.
Desalination: With freshwater scarcity acute, coastal desalination plants are expanding. Tamil Nadu operates India’s largest (450 MLD capacity), with plans for 1,000 MLD additional capacity by 2030 across coastal states. Solar-powered desalination reduces carbon footprint while providing drinking water.
Maritime Infrastructure & Shipping
The Sagarmala Programme (launched 2015, accelerated 2024-2026) aims to transform India’s port infrastructure with ₹6 lakh crore investment by 2030:
- Port Modernization: 12 major and 200+ minor ports handling 1.8 billion tonnes cargo annually (target: 2.5 billion by 2030)
- Coastal Shipping: Ro-Ro ferry services connect islands and coastal cities, reducing road congestion
- Shipbuilding Revival: The Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy subsidizes domestic ship construction, aiming to capture 5% global market share by 2035
Blue Corridors: Coastal economic zones integrate ports with industrial clusters, logistics hubs, and renewable energy installations—creating comprehensive maritime economic ecosystems.
Challenges on the Blue Frontier
Governance Fragmentation: Blue economy responsibilities scatter across 13+ ministries (Fisheries, Shipping, Environment, Earth Sciences, Energy, Tourism, etc.) with inadequate coordination. A proposed National Blue Economy Authority could provide unified policy direction.
Environmental Degradation: Coastal pollution, plastic waste, untreated sewage, and industrial effluents threaten marine ecosystems. The 2024 Coastal Regulation Zone notification eases development norms but raises concerns about habitat destruction.
Climate Vulnerability: Sea-level rise threatens 7,000+ coastal villages. Ocean warming drives fish stocks toward poles, disrupting traditional fisheries. Cyclone intensification increases coastal infrastructure risks.
Technology Gap: Indian marine science lags global leaders. Deep-sea research vessels, autonomous underwater vehicles, and advanced ocean monitoring systems require substantial investment. The ₹4,000 crore Deep Ocean Mission (2021-2026) addresses this but needs scale-up.
Equity and Livelihoods: Small-scale traditional fishers fear displacement by industrial fishing and coastal development. Blue economy growth must ensure livelihood security for 40+ million coastal dependents through skill training, social safety nets, and inclusive governance.
The Strategic Imperative
India’s geography grants unique advantages: positioned along critical shipping lanes, blessed with extensive coastline and continental shelf, surrounded by waters rich in biodiversity and renewable energy potential. As land-based resources face increasing constraints, the ocean represents India’s economic frontier for the 21st century.
Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Science & Technology, declared in November 2025: “The blue economy will be the new engine of India’s growth, combining prosperity with sustainability”. Realizing this vision requires integrated policy, substantial investment, environmental stewardship, and inclusive development that honors both ocean health and coastal community welfare.
The next decade will determine whether India merely extracts from its oceans or truly partners with them—sustaining marine ecosystems while they sustain Indian prosperity.
–Rashmi Kumari
