Marine Resources — Revision Notes
⚡ 30-Second Revision
- Living Resources: — Fisheries (fish, crustaceans, mollusks), Coral Reefs, Mangroves, Marine Biodiversity.
- Non-Living Resources: — Petroleum, Natural Gas, Polymetallic Nodules (Mn, Ni, Cu, Co), Polymetallic Sulphides, Rare Earth Elements, Sand, Gravel.
- Energy Resources: — Tidal, Wave, OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion).
- India's EEZ: — 2.02 million sq km, up to 200 nautical miles.
- Key Locations (India): — Mumbai High (Oil/Gas), KG Basin (Gas), Gulf of Kutch (Tidal), Lakshadweep/A&N (OTEC, Coral), Sundarbans (Mangroves).
- Legal Framework: — UNCLOS 1982 (India ratified 1995).
- Deep Ocean Mission (DOM): — Flagship program, 'Matsya 6000' submersible, polymetallic nodule exploration.
- Blue Carbon: — Mangroves, Seagrass Meadows.
- Vyyuha Mnemonic: — OCEAN WEALTH (Oil, Coral reefs, Energy, Aquaculture, Nodules, Wind patterns, Exclusive zones, Algae, Life forms, Tidal power, Hydrocarbons).
2-Minute Revision
Marine resources are broadly categorized into living (fisheries, coral reefs, mangroves), non-living (oil, gas, polymetallic nodules), and energy (tidal, wave, OTEC). India, with its 7,517 km coastline and 2.
02 million sq km EEZ, possesses significant potential in all these areas. The UNCLOS 1982 provides the international legal framework, granting coastal states sovereign rights over their EEZ resources.
India's Deep Ocean Mission is a strategic initiative to explore deep-sea minerals like polymetallic nodules and develop associated technologies. The 'Blue Economy' concept emphasizes sustainable utilization of these resources for economic growth while preserving ocean health.
Challenges include overfishing, marine pollution, and the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining. Geopolitical competition for marine resources, especially in the Indo-Pacific, influences India's maritime strategy.
Sustainable management practices like Marine Protected Areas and ecosystem-based approaches are crucial for long-term resource availability. Remember the Vyyuha Quick Recall mnemonic: OCEAN WEALTH.
5-Minute Revision
Marine resources are critical for global sustenance, encompassing living (fish, coral reefs, mangroves, marine biodiversity), non-living (offshore oil/gas, polymetallic nodules, rare earth elements), and energy resources (tidal, wave, OTEC).
India's extensive coastline and 2.02 million sq km EEZ provide vast potential, with specific regions like Mumbai High (oil/gas), Gulf of Kutch (tidal), and the Central Indian Ocean Basin (polymetallic nodules) being significant.
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the foundational legal instrument, defining maritime zones and resource rights, which India has ratified and integrated into its national laws.
India's 'Blue Economy' strategy aims for sustainable economic growth from ocean resources, supported by initiatives like the Deep Ocean Mission (DOM), which focuses on deep-sea exploration and technology development, including the 'Matsya 6000' submersible.
However, exploitation faces challenges: overfishing, marine pollution , climate change impacts on ecosystems (e.g., coral bleaching), and the high technological and environmental costs of deep-sea mining.
Geopolitically, marine resources are a source of competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, influencing India's maritime strategy and its 'SAGAR' vision. Sustainable management practices, such as ecosystem-based management, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), and responsible deep-sea mining regulations, are essential to balance resource utilization with environmental protection.
Marine biotechnology also offers promising applications from marine genetic resources. Understanding these interconnections is vital for UPSC. The Vyyuha Quick Recall mnemonic 'OCEAN WEALTH' helps consolidate key resource types and concepts.
Prelims Revision Notes
- Classification: — Living (fish, crustaceans, mollusks, coral reefs, mangroves, marine algae), Non-living (petroleum, natural gas, polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulphides, rare earth elements, sand, gravel), Energy (tidal, wave, OTEC).
- UNCLOS 1982: — Defines Territorial Sea (12 nm), Contiguous Zone (24 nm), EEZ (200 nm), Continental Shelf (up to 350 nm), High Seas, The Area. India ratified in 1995.
- India's Maritime Zones: — 7,517 km coastline, 2.02 million sq km EEZ. India has sovereign rights over resources in its EEZ and continental shelf.
- Key Indian Resource Locations:
* Oil & Gas: Mumbai High (Western), Krishna-Godavari Basin (Eastern). * Tidal Energy: Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Khambhat. * OTEC: Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar Islands (tropical waters). * Polymetallic Nodules: Central Indian Ocean Basin (India holds exploration rights). * Coral Reefs: Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch. * Mangroves: Sundarbans, Bhitarkanika, Gujarat coast.
- Deep Ocean Mission (DOM): — Objectives include deep-sea mining technology (polymetallic nodules), manned submersible 'Matsya 6000', ocean climate change advisory, marine biodiversity assessment.
- Blue Carbon: — Carbon stored in coastal ecosystems (mangroves, seagrass meadows). Crucial for climate mitigation.
- Marine Biotechnology: — Applications in pharmaceuticals, biofuels (algae), industrial enzymes.
- Threats: — Overfishing (IUU fishing), marine pollution (plastics, oil spills), ocean acidification, habitat destruction.
- Conservation: — Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM), Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).
Mains Revision Notes
- Blue Economy Framework: — Define, explain pillars (fisheries, energy, tourism, biotech, shipping), and analyze India's strategy (SAGAR, DOM, PMMSY). Discuss potential for economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development .
- Sustainable Management: — Emphasize the need for balancing exploitation with conservation. Discuss strategies: Ecosystem-Based Management, MPAs, combating IUU fishing, responsible deep-sea mining regulations (precautionary principle), blue carbon initiatives. Connect to SDGs.
- Geopolitical Implications: — Analyze competition for resources (fisheries, hydrocarbons, deep-sea minerals) in the Indo-Pacific. Discuss maritime disputes (e.g., South China Sea), China's assertiveness, and India's strategic responses (naval modernization, multilateral diplomacy, DOM as a strategic asset). Link to India's maritime security doctrine.
- Challenges to Marine Resources: — Elaborate on threats like overfishing, marine pollution (plastic, industrial waste, nutrient runoff) , climate change impacts (ocean warming, acidification, sea-level rise), and technological/financial barriers to deep-sea exploitation and marine renewable energy.
- Deep Ocean Mission (DOM): — Discuss its multi-faceted objectives (technology, resources, climate, biodiversity). Analyze its significance for India's future resource security, technological leadership, and geopolitical influence in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Marine Energy Potential: — Evaluate the feasibility and challenges (technological, environmental, economic) of tidal, wave, and OTEC in India. Discuss their role in India's renewable energy transition.
- UNCLOS and Governance: — Explain UNCLOS as the legal backbone. Discuss the role of ISA in managing 'The Area' and the ongoing debate on deep-sea mining regulations. Highlight the importance of international cooperation for transboundary resource management.
Vyyuha Quick Recall
OCEAN WEALTH
Oil & Gas (Non-living, energy) Coral reefs (Living, biodiversity) Energy (Tidal, Wave, OTEC) Aquaculture (Living, food security) Nodules (Polymetallic, non-living minerals)
Wind patterns (Indirectly affect ocean currents, energy) Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ, legal framework) Algae (Living, biotechnology, blue carbon) Life forms (Marine biodiversity, fisheries) Tidal power (Energy) Hydrocarbons (Non-living, energy)