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Key Points

Marine scientists and policy experts are pushing for national standards to strengthen India's coastal and ocean management. They emphasize that uniform protocols are crucial for protecting marine ecosystems and ensuring sustainable fishing practices. The initiative led by CMFRI and BIS aims to create scientifically validated methods that align with global frameworks. This approach will improve data reliability, strengthen conservation efforts, and enhance India's seafood export competitiveness.

Key Points: India Marine Experts Call for National Coastal Standards

  • National framework needed for fisheries stock assessment and coastal mapping
  • Standards would enable globally comparable ocean monitoring methods
  • CMFRI to lead scientific methodology formulation with BIS collaboration
  • Proposed Indian Marine Sustainability Certification as alternative to foreign systems
  • Aligning with global frameworks like CBD and UNCLOS to boost trade
  • Training modules and certification programs for coastal managers development
2 min read

Call for national standards to strengthen India's marine and coastal governance

Scientists urge Indian standards for marine management to protect ocean ecosystems, ensure sustainable fisheries, and boost seafood export competitiveness through uniform protocols.

"Marine biodiversity underpins ecosystem stability, fisheries productivity, and climate resilience - Dr Grinson George, CMFRI Director"

Kochi, Oct 7

Marine scientists and policy experts have called for the establishment of Indian standards for marine and coastal management to safeguard ocean ecosystems and ensure sustainable fisheries.

They emphasised the need for a national framework that addresses key areas such as fisheries stock assessment, coastal resource mapping, and climate adaptation.

The recommendations came at a workshop on Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Standardisation, jointly organised by the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) on Tuesday.

Indian Standards are gazetted documents that define minimum requirements for uniform and scientifically validated practices. Applied to the marine sector, they would enable India to adopt globally comparable methods for monitoring, conserving, and managing ocean resources, thereby improving policy credibility and data reliability.

"Marine biodiversity underpins ecosystem stability, fisheries productivity, and climate resilience. The lack of uniform protocols has resulted in fragmented data and weak enforcement," CMFRI Director Dr Grinson George said, while inaugurating the event.

Dr George said that the CMFRI would spearhead the formulation of scientific methodologies to be codified as Indian Standards, in collaboration with the BIS and other agencies.

The institute will also assist in developing training modules, certification programmes, and open-access repositories to promote adoption among scientists, policymakers, and coastal managers.

Experts observed that nationally recognised standards aligned with global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) would strengthen both marine conservation and India’s trade competitiveness in seafood exports.

BIS Environment and Ecology Department head Virendra Singh said the bureau is committed to developing environmental standards to improve marine sustainability and fisheries governance.

The workshop also proposed the creation of an Indian Marine Sustainability Certification System under the BIS, designed as a cost-effective, inclusive, and context-specific alternative to foreign sustainability certifications.

Participants included scientists from the CMFRI, the IFGTB, the Zoological Survey of India, and the BIS.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Finally! The lack of uniform protocols has been a major issue. Fishermen in different states follow different practices, making data collection and policy implementation very difficult. Hope this brings some much-needed standardization.
A
Arjun K
The Indian Marine Sustainability Certification System is a brilliant idea. Why should we depend on foreign certifications when we can develop our own standards that are more relevant to our coastal conditions and fishing communities?
S
Sarah B
While I appreciate the initiative, I hope the implementation will be practical and considerate of small-scale fishermen. Often such standards become bureaucratic hurdles for local communities while benefiting only large commercial operations.
V
Vikram M
This will definitely boost our seafood exports! International buyers prefer certified sustainable products. Having Indian standards aligned with global frameworks will make our marine products more competitive in the global market. 🐟
K
Kavya N
Climate adaptation is crucial for our coastal states. With rising sea levels and changing weather patterns, we need scientific standards to protect both marine biodiversity and coastal communities. Good step forward!

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