India's first open sea fish farming project

• India's first open-sea cage fish farming project has been launched in the Andaman Sea to boost the blue economy.

• On January 18, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh inaugurated India's first open-sea cage fish farming project in the North Bay of the Andaman Sea.

• This launch has been described as a significant step towards realizing the vision of the blue economy through India's vast marine resources.

• The project has been implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Union Territory administration.

• Open-sea farming of marine fish and seaweed is being carried out in natural marine conditions using scientific innovations.

• Local fishing communities have been provided with seaweed and fish seeds to promote livelihood generation.

• This initiative aims to unlock the economic potential of India's oceans, which remained largely untapped for decades after independence.

• A shift in national thinking since 2014 has recognized the marine sector as a key driver of economic growth.