Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Launches India’s First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project at North Bay, Andaman Sea; Ministry of Earth Sciences to Collaborate with UT Government of A&N

1. At a Glance

Launched 18 January 2026 by Union MoS (IC) Science & Technology / Earth Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh at North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Andaman & Nicobar Islands [S1][S2].
First-ever open-sea cage-based marine finfish + seaweed cultivation pilot in India, using indigenous cage technology by NIOT, Chennai (autonomous body under Ministry of Earth Sciences) [S1][S2].
Operationalises the Blue Economy vision — leveraging India's 7,500-km coastline & 2.02 mn km² EEZ for livelihoods and food security [S3].
UPSC relevance: convergence of GS-III (economy/fisheries/S&T), GS-I (geography of A&N), GS-II (Centre–UT cooperation).

2. Why in the News

Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), via NIOT, signed a collaboration with the UT Administration of A&N Islands to deploy open-sea cages at North Bay on 18 Jan 2026 [S1][S2].
Marks transition of NIOT's open-sea cage R&D from prototype to community-deployed pilot [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

NIOT established 1993, Chennai under MoES; mandate: indigenous ocean technology [S3].
India's mariculture historically confined to brackish-water/coastal zones (CMFRI cage trials since c. 2007–08).
PMMSY launched 2020 (₹20,050 cr) — flagship for fisheries; mariculture an emerging vertical [S4].
Draft Blue Economy Policy (2020) by Economic Advisory Council–PM identified deep-sea & open-ocean mariculture as a priority pillar.
NITI Aayog report "India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries" released October 2025 [S3].
SOP for Mariculture released Nov 2025 covering sea-cage culture, bivalve, seaweed, ornamental fisheries [S3].

4. Core Static Facts

Project: India's First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project [S1][S2].
Site: North Bay, Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), Andaman Sea [S1][S2].
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) [S1].
Implementing Agency: National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), Chennai [S1][S2].
Partner: UT Administration, Andaman & Nicobar Islands [S1][S2].
Two Components:
Marine Fauna — finfish seeds in NIOT-designed open-sea cages for natural-ocean culture [S2].
Marine Flora — seaweed seeds distributed to local fishing communities for deep-water cultivation [S2].
Convergent schemes: PMMSY (₹20,050 cr, since 2020), PM-MKSSY, FIDF, KCC for fishers [S3][S4].
Constitutional/Legal hook: Fisheries within territorial waters = State/UT subject; beyond 12 NM (EEZ up to 200 NM) = Union (Entry 57, Union List) — relevant for A&N as UT under Centre.

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Economic - Diversifies fisher incomes beyond capture fisheries; targets reducing overfishing in nearshore zones [S3]. - India is world's 2nd-largest fish producer; FY 2024-25 production 197.75 lakh tonnes, up 106 % vs FY 2013-14 [S5]. - Open-sea cage culture seen as a mariculture engine to push toward NITI's offshore-fisheries targets [S3].

Scientific / Technological - Uses HDPE/indigenous moored open-sea cages engineered by NIOT to withstand oceanic currents, cyclonic loads typical of Andaman Sea [S1][S2]. - Integrates ocean observation + cage siting — leveraging MoES's INCOIS-style oceanographic data.

Environmental - Shifts pressure from coral-reef-adjacent nearshore fishing in A&N (biodiversity hotspot) to controlled cage culture [S3]. - Seaweed farming = carbon sequestration + nutrient bio-remediation co-benefit [S3].

Social / Livelihoods - Direct beneficiaries: island fishing communities (incl. local tribes' coastal settlers); seaweed seeds handed to community members [S2]. - Addresses limited livelihood options on A&N's small island economies.

Geopolitical / Strategic - A&N sits astride the Malacca approaches; strengthening civilian-economic footprint complements Indo-Pacific posture. - Aligns with SAGAR (Security & Growth for All in the Region) and the Sagarmala programme.

Administrative - Model of Centre (MoES) – UT (A&N) vertical cooperation; bypasses State-list complexities since A&N is a UT.

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

Oct 2025: NITI Aayog releases India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries [S3].
Nov 2025: MoFAH&D releases SOP for Mariculture (cage, bivalve, seaweed, ornamental) [S3].
2025: ₹199.24 cr Smart & Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder, A&N approved under PMMSY [S4 lineage].
18 Jan 2026: Launch of open-sea marine fish farming project at North Bay [S1][S2].

7. Prelims Hooks

Project launched on 18 January 2026 at North Bay, Andaman Sea [S1].
Launching Minister: Dr Jitendra Singh, MoS (IC) Science & Technology / Earth Sciences [S1].
Nodal ministry: Ministry of Earth Sciences (NOT Ministry of Fisheries) [S1].
Implementing technical arm: NIOT, Chennai (est. 1993) [S1][S2].
Two components: finfish in open-sea cages + deep-water seaweed cultivation [S2].
Partner UT: Andaman & Nicobar Islands administration [S1].
India's fish production FY 2024-25: 197.75 lakh tonnes; +106 % over FY 2013-14 [S5].
PMMSY outlay: ₹20,050 crore, launched 2020 [S4].
NITI Aayog Blue Economy strategy on deep-sea/offshore fisheries released Oct 2025 [S3].
SOP for Mariculture released Nov 2025 [S3].
Permitted mariculture activities under SOP: cage culture, bivalves (pearl/mussel), seaweed, ornamental fisheries [S3].
India's EEZ: ~2.02 million km²; coastline 7,500+ km.
Fisheries beyond territorial waters fall under Union List Entry 57.

8. Mains Relevance

GS-III — Economy: Animal husbandry & fisheries; Science & Tech indigenisation; Environment.
GS-I — Geography of A&N, oceanography of Andaman Sea.
GS-II — Centre–UT cooperative governance.

Plausible stems: 1. "Open-sea cage mariculture can be a game-changer for India's Blue Economy. Discuss with reference to NIOT's North Bay pilot." (GS-III, 250 w) 2. "Examine the institutional architecture for harnessing India's marine fisheries beyond territorial waters." (GS-III) 3. "How can island ecosystems like A&N balance livelihood generation with biodiversity conservation? Illustrate." (GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

PMMSY & PM-MKSSY — parent fisheries schemes [S3].
Sagarmala & SAGAR doctrine — maritime economy/strategy.
NIOT projects — OTEC, desalination, deep-sea mining (Samudrayaan).
Deep Ocean Mission (2021, MoES, ₹4,077 cr) — sister Blue Economy programme.
CMFRI & ICAR fisheries research — distinguish from NIOT.
A&N Islands strategic geography — Indo-Pacific, Malacca.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms 2019 — overlap with mariculture siting.
UNCLOS — EEZ and high-seas fisheries jurisdiction.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

Wrong ministry: NOT Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying — this project is led by Ministry of Earth Sciences via NIOT [S1].
NIOT vs CMFRI vs FSI: NIOT = ocean technology (MoES); CMFRI = marine fisheries research (ICAR/DARE); FSI = stock assessment (DoF).
Confusing PMMSY (2020) with the older Blue Revolution Scheme (2015-20).
A&N is a UT, not a State — fisheries administration falls to Centre via Lt-Governor.
Project is at North Bay (Port Blair area), not Mayabunder (which is the new harbour site) [S4 thread].

11. Sources

[S1] PIB — Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh Launches India's First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project at North Bay — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2215808 — (tier: 1)
[S2] PIB (mirror detail page) — same release — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2215808&reg=3&lang=1 — (tier: 1)
[S3] NITI Aayog — India's Blue Economy: Strategy for Harnessing Deep-Sea and Offshore Fisheries (Oct 2025) — https://niti.gov.in/sites/default/files/2025-10/Indias-Blue-Economy-Strategy-For-Harnessing-Deep-Sea-And-Offshore-Fisheries.pdf — (tier: 1)
[S4] PIB — Department of Fisheries approves ₹199.24 cr Smart & Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2219148&reg=3&lang=1 — (tier: 1)
[S5] PIB — Fish production increased to 197.75 lakh tonnes in FY 2024-25 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2213532 — (tier: 1)