The oceans are vital to life on Earth. They support economies, stabilise the climate, and sustain millions of livelihoods, especially for coastal nations like India. As environmental challenges mount due to climate change, pollution, and overexploitation, the need for a sustainable approach to ocean resources has become urgent.

• At the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held in Nice, India strongly advocated for urgent, coordinated global action on ocean sustainability, with the Union Minister of Earth Sciences (Independent Charge), Dr. Jitendra Singh, laying out a comprehensive vision of India’s marine initiatives and international commitments. The conference, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica under the theme “Accelerating Action and Mobilizing All Actors to Conserve and Sustainably Use the Ocean,” provided a crucial platform for reinforcing global cooperation on Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water.

Why the Oceans Matter More Than Ever:

Oceans cover more than 70% of Earth’s surface and hold 97% of its water. They sustain about 94% of all known life forms, making them the Earth’s largest and most complex ecosystem. But their importance doesn’t end there.

Oceans:

• Produce over 50% of the oxygen we breathe through microscopic marine plants like phytoplankton.
• Act as a carbon sink, absorbing around 23% of the CO₂ released by human activities annually.
• Drive the global water cycle and regulate climate through ocean currents.
• Contain continental shelves rich in oil and gas reserves, such as the Persian Gulf, Gulf of Mexico, and Bombay High.
• Support livelihoods through fishing, tourism, maritime transport, and energy.

Despite their importance, oceans today are under unprecedented stress. Rising greenhouse gas emissions have made them:

• Warmer: Over 90% of the excess heat trapped by global warming is absorbed by oceans.
• More acidic: Oceans are now 30% more acidic than they were before the industrial revolution.
• Oxygen-deprived: Warmer waters hold less oxygen, threatening marine biodiversity.

These changes have serious consequences. For instance, warming oceans disrupt marine food chains, particularly by reducing phytoplankton, the base of the food web. A 2021 IPCC report revealed that the Indian Ocean has been warming faster than any other ocean since the 1950s, causing a 20% drop in phytoplankton in the western Indian Ocean alone.

Coral Reefs: The Dying Rainforests of the Sea

• Among the most visible and devastating impacts of ocean warming is coral bleaching. Corals, often called the "rainforests of the sea," are vital marine ecosystems. When ocean temperatures rise, corals expel the algae (zooxanthellae) that live inside their tissues—causing them to turn white and become more vulnerable to disease and death.
• The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) has confirmed that the period from January 2023 to March 2025 witnessed the fourth global mass bleaching event, affecting 84% of the world’s coral reefs across 82 countries. This widespread stress threatens marine biodiversity and millions of people who depend on coral reefs for food, tourism, and coastal protection.

Ice Melt, Rising Seas, and Coastal Vulnerability:

In polar regions, warming oceans are accelerating the melting of glaciers and breaking off of ice masses, leading to rising sea levels. For India, the implications are particularly severe:

• Cities like Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata face growing risks of flooding, seawater intrusion, and infrastructure damage.
• Underground drinking water sources are at risk of salinisation.
• Coastal livelihoods and infrastructure critical to trade and national security are exposed to rising climate risks.

The Indian Ocean Region:

India’s maritime geography is both a strength and a challenge. With 11,098 km of coastline and a vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending 200 nautical miles into the sea, India is strategically positioned in the Indian Ocean.

• Roughly 30% of India’s population lives in coastal areas.
• The blue economy contributes about 4% of India’s GDP.
• Yet, large parts of the EEZ remain unexplored and underutilised.

Climate change, however, is already undermining marine wealth. For example, oil sardine catch in Kerala dropped by 75% in 2021, according to the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI)—a loss driven by ocean warming, altered currents, and reduced plankton.

On top of ecological risks, strategic challenges are growing. China’s “String of Pearls” strategy—building maritime infrastructure in the Indian Ocean—is seen as a geopolitical counterweight to India’s maritime influence.

India’s Expanding Role in Global Ocean Stewardship:

·        Deep-Sea Exploration:  A major milestone is India’s Deep Ocean Mission, especially the ‘Samudrayaan’ project—its first manned submersible, set to be deployed by 2026. Designed to explore depths of up to 6,000 meters, this marks a significant leap in India’s ocean research capabilities and global scientific participation.

·        Blue Economy:  India’s Blue Economy push, led by the Sagarmala Programme and Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), is transforming marine infrastructure and livelihoods. Over 600 port-led projects worth USD 80 billion have been implemented.

o   Additionally, USD 2.5 billion has been invested in modernizing the fisheries sector, resulting in a 10% increase in fish production and the creation of over 1,000 Fish Farmer Producer Organizations since 2022.

·        Marine Biodiversity:  India has expanded Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to 6.6% of its Exclusive Economic Zone, supporting global biodiversity targets. More than 10,000 hectares of mangroves have been restored as part of nature-based climate adaptation efforts, which also include shoreline management strategies for resilient coastal communities.

·        Plastic and Waste Management: India continues to address marine litter through the ‘Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar’ campaign. Since 2022, it has cleaned over 1,000 km of coastline and removed more than 50,000 tonnes of plastic waste. A draft National Marine Litter Policy has been developed, and India remains a strong advocate for a Global Plastics Treaty and faster ratification of the BBNJ (High Seas) Agreement.

·        Launch of the SAHAV Portal: India launched SAHAV, a new digital ocean data portal, to provide open access to marine data. This platform supports better decision-making by offering transparent, science-based insights for researchers, policymakers, and the public.

·        International Cooperation: India’s role in global marine governance has expanded through its co-leadership of the ‘Blue Talks’ with France and Costa Rica and its engagement in high-level sessions like the India-Norway event on Marine Spatial Planning. These efforts reflect India’s shift from national efforts to proactive international leadership in sustainable ocean management.

Conclusion:

Oceans sustain life on Earth in countless visible and invisible ways. Yet today, they are being pushed to the brink by human activity and inaction. As climate impacts intensify, it is not just marine biodiversity that is at risk—but also the security, economy, and well-being of billions of people.

India, with its vast coastline and strategic location, has much to gain—and even more to lose—from the health of its oceans. The time to act is now, not only to protect marine ecosystems but also to build a resilient maritime future that can support both people and planet.