Marine and Oceanic Resources – Blue Water Economy

The biotic and abiotic resources found in the oceanic water and at the bottoms are called marine resources. The ocean’s resources play a vital role in sustaining the needs of society. A diverse array of marine organisms is used for food, medicine, cosmetics, and a wealth of industrial applications. The world’s demand for energy, minerals and water have become increasingly dependent on non-living marine resources.

How it formed

• Fish and other marine life form through evolution over millions and billions of years.
• Oil and gas form when dead marine plants and animals are left on the ocean bed and become covered in sediments over many years. When they get buried deeply enough, heat and pressure become so great that they are compressed and form oil. With higher heat and compression, they can go a stage further and form natural gas.
• Sand and gravel are simply sediment that gets broken down by fast-moving rivers and then swept into the sea.
• Minerals form differently depending on the mineral, but generally form when lava from volcanoes solidifies.
• Water itself contains minerals, and when volcanoes erupt the lava solidifies to form rock that contains minerals.
• How fast the lava cools determines whether minerals form. It has to be slow enough that crystals form since minerals are crystalline. The slower the lava cools, the larger the crystals.
• Coral reefs form when coral larvae attach to underwater rocks. These larvae grow to form the reef. Reefs usually form into one of three main structures: barrier reefs, atoll reefs, or fringing reefs.
  • Fringing reefs are most often found around coastlines and go from the shore straight out to sea.
  • Barrier reefs are also along the shore but at more of a distance, with deep water in between.
  • Atoll reefs begin as a fringing reef that surrounds an underwater volcano.
  • When the volcano recedes a barrier reef is formed. Once the reef reaches the surface, it becomes a circular atoll reef.

Oceanic Biotic Resources

Biotic refers to living things. Phytoplanktons, zooplankton, fish, crustaceans, mollusks, corals, reptiles, and mammals are among the sea’s biotic resources.

Planktons in Ocean

Plankton is a varied group of organisms that live in water (or air). They are unable to swim against the stream (or wind). Plankters are the individual creatures that make up plankton. Plankton is commonly associated with water, but airborne forms, known as aeroplankton, spend part of their lives drifting through the air. Many small and large aquatic species, such as bivalves, fish, and whales, rely on them for nutrition in the water. Bacteria, archaea, algae, and protozoa are drifting or floating animals that make up marine plankton. They live in the saltwater of seas and the brackish waters of estuaries.

Algae in Ocean

Algae are a class of primarily aquatic, photosynthetic, and nucleus-bearing organisms. However, they lack roots, stems, leaves, and specialized multicellular reproductive structures found in plants.

Algae found in the ocean is used in multiple ways. Brown algae produce algin. Algin is used in the paint industry as a stabilizer, to strengthen ceramics, and to thicken jams. Agar and carrageenan are both found in red algae. In research, agar is an important medium for bacterial cultivation.

Desserts and pharmaceutical items include it as well. Carrageenan is used as an ice cream stabilizer and an emulsifier in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.  Sea lettuce is used as a flavoring in soups and salads. Kelp can be grown to produce methane gas and converted into energy.

Zooplankton in Ocean

Zooplankton are minute aquatic microorganisms in the water column. Zooplankton can be divided into two categories based on their food consumption. Primary consumers eat free-floating algae. At the same time, secondary consumers eat other zooplankton. Primary and secondary consumers together make up the zooplankton community. Zooplanktones include crustaceans, rotifers, insect larvae, and aquatic mites.

The aquatic food web is extremely dependent on the zooplankton ecosystem. These organisms function as a link in the food chain. They transmit energy from planktonic algae (primary producers) to larger invertebrate predators and fish that eat them. Changes in aquatic habitats have a significant impact on zooplankton. Changes in species composition, abundance, and body size distribution can be used to detect the effects of environmental disturbances.

Nekton Community in Ocean

The active swimming aquatic organisms in the water body are called nekton. The most important of them is the fish. Demersal fish are found on or near the bottom of the ocean. Reef fish, on the other hand, is connected with coral reefs. Fish that live in the pelagic zone of lakes or oceans are neither close to the bottom nor are they close to the coast. The marine pelagic environment, which covers 1,370 million cubic kilometers (330 million cubic miles) and is home to 11% of all known fish species, is the largest aquatic habitat.

Benthos Community in Ocean

The benthic zone is a community of creatures that dwell on, in, or near the bottom of the ocean.

Types of Benthos

Epifauna: Epifauna resides on the surface of the ocean’s bottom. They cling to hard surfaces such as pebbles, shells, and pilings. Epifauna includes Oysters, sponges, sea squirts, sea stars, barnacles, etc. An epifaunal benthic community is an example of an epifaunal benthic population.

Infauna: Infauna digs into the sediments at the bottom of the ocean. Worms, clams, and other infauna develop their communities. Many diverse species can be found in a healthy infaunal community.

Importance of Benthos

Benthos connects primary producers, such as phytoplankton, to higher levels in the food chain. Clams and oysters are filter feeders that eat plankton and organic particles. Larger, economically important species such as blue crabs, striped bass, spot, croaker, and white perch eat many benthic animals, particularly clams and worms. Furthermore, bacteria, decomposers, and detritus feeders living at the ocean’s bottom decompose waste products, dead plants, and animals.

Fishing Ocean Resources

It refers to catching aquatic animals other than fish, such as molluscs, crustaceans, and echinoderms (such as starfish and sea urchins). Fishing is done in different water bodies. Fishing is divided into categories based on its location.

Comparison of Inland and Marine Fishing

1. Inland fishing is practiced in fresh waters such as canals, ponds, reservoirs, and rivers. Fishing in seawater or saltwater is referred to as marine fishing.
2. Large numbers of fish are raised for human consumption in tanks or ponds. A large number of fish are caught in marine fisheries using synthetic fiber nets, mechanized fishing, etc.
3. These fish are caught as part of commercial freshwater fishing operations.          These fish have the potential to be exported to international markets.
4. Inland fisheries include Rohus, Grass Craos, Callas, Mrigals, etc.    Catfish, mollusks, mackerel, sardines, tunas, crustaceans, and other marine species are examples of marine fisheries.

Abiotic Resources

Abiotic resources of the ocean refer to non-living natural resources that can be found within the marine environment.  They are broadly classified as mineral resources and energy resources.

Mineral resources: 

1. Minerals dissolved in seawater:  Certain minerals are present in small quantities within seawater itself and can be extracted using specialized processes. 
   • Continental Shelf and Slope Deposits: These deposits are found on the shallow seabed regions, primarily on the continental shelves and slopes. For Examples: Diamond, Fisheries Sector, Pearls, Monazite sand, a source of thorium, found off the Kerala coast.
2. Sediments on the deep ocean floor: Nodules of manganese contain a variety of minerals, including lead, zinc, nickel, copper, cobalt, and copper.

Energy Reserves:

Polymetallic Nodules and Crusts of Marine Manganese

Manganese nodules are iron and manganese oxide concentrations that can include economically valuable quantities of manganese (30 per cent), nickel (1.25-1.5 per cent), copper (1%), and cobalt (0.25%). Iron (6%), silicon (5%), and aluminium are among the other components (3 per cent). These nodules are formed by metal precipitation from seawater, hot springs associated with volcanic activity, and metal hydroxides generated by microorganism activity.

Nodules are potentially attractive to future mining because of their abundance, composition, and occurrence as loose material on the seabed’s surface. The United States of America, Madagascar, Brazil, Antarctica, Argentina, Japan, South Africa, Canada, and India are the top ten countries with the biggest resource potential for nodules and crusts. One of the few areas where nodules have been discovered is in shallow waters in Papua New Guinea.

Gas Hydrate Deposits in the Sea

Gas hydrate is crystalline ice found at depths of the ocean and in shallow polar regions.  It’s made up of methane gas molecules wrapped in water molecules. Gas hydrate remains solid at great depths in the ocean because of freezing temperatures and high ocean pressure. Organic matter trapped in marine silt decomposes to produce dissolved gas. As a result, gas hydrate deposits are expected to form where the seafloor rises above 500 meters, and there is an unoxidized organic carbon source in marine sediments. At standard atmospheric pressure, gas hydrate breakdown produces 164 times its own volume of methane gas. It is believed that gas hydrates contain more methane than is now in the atmosphere. They have double the energy of all carbon-based fossil fuels combined. Gas hydrates have been discovered on North and South America’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

Blue economy

• As per the World Bank, the blue economy is defined as “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of the ecosystem.”
• The blue economy comprises a range of economic sectors and related policies that together determine whether the use of ocean resources is sustainable. 

Components of Blue Economy:

• Fisheries and Aquaculture: Sustainable fishing practices and responsible aquaculture contribute to food security, employment, and income generation.
• Maritime Transportation and Shipping: The shipping industry plays a crucial role in global trade and connectivity.
• Tourism and Recreation: Coastal and marine tourism can stimulate local economies if overexploitation and environmental degradation are avoided.
• Renewable Energy: The blue economy includes the development of renewable energy sources like offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Coastal Development: Sustainable development of coastal areas involves balancing human activities with conservation efforts to protect marine ecosystems.

Challenges of the blue economy:

• Overfishing: The fish population is being depleted faster than the rate of replenishment. This not only disrupts marine ecosystems but also impacts the livelihoods of coastal communities reliant on fishing.
• Pollution and marine debris: Pollution from industrial waste, agricultural runoff, plastic debris, and oil spills adversely affect marine life, degrade habitats, and disrupt the entire marine food chain.
• Climate change impacts: Rising ocean temperatures, sea level rise, and ocean acidification due to climate change pose serious threats to marine ecosystems and coastal communities. Coral bleaching, habitat loss, and shifts in species distribution negatively impact the fishing and tourism industries.
• Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing: IUU fishing undermines sustainable fisheries management by bypassing regulations and quotas, posing risks to fish stocks and the livelihoods of legitimate fishers.
• Sustainable Technologies: Developing sustainable technologies for ocean exploration and resource extraction is expensive and risky. Striking a balance between innovation and environmental concerns is essential for the blue economy’s success.
• Limited technology and infrastructure: Many coastal and developing regions lack the necessary technology and infrastructure to fully capitalize on blue economy opportunities, such as adequate port facilities, maritime transportation, and monitoring systems for sustainable resource management.
• Inadequate data and information: Sound decision-making in the blue economy relies on accurate and up-to-date data on ocean resources and ecosystems. Gaps in data hinder the formulation of effective policies and strategies.
• Coastal erosion and habitat loss: Human activities like coastal development and dredging contribute to habitat loss and erosion, severely impacting critical marine ecosystems like mangroves, salt marshes, and coral reefs.
• Collaboration among nations: The sustainable management of ocean resources will require collaboration across borders and sectors through a variety of partnerships which is particularly challenging for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) who face significant limitations.

How can building a blue economy help us achieve the SDGs?

• Environmental sustainability: The blue economy concept seeks to promote economic growth, social inclusion and preservation or improvement of livelihoods while at the same time ensuring environmental sustainability. So, to build a blue economy, sustainability needs to be placed at its center. 
• Interlinkages: It needs to be ensured that policies do not undermine each other and that interlinkages are leveraged for the benefit of people, the planet, and prosperity.

India’s Blue Economy:

• GDP: India’s blue economy accounts for roughly 4% of the GDP and is estimated to increase once the mechanism is improved. 
• Fisheries: India is the second largest fish-producing nation in the world and has a fleet of 2,50,000 fishing boats. 
• Minerals: India has been granted exclusive rights to explore polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean Basin. It has explored four million square miles and established two mine locations since then.This contract was initially signed on 25th March 2002 for a period of 15 years, which later was extended by the authority twice for 5 year period, during 2017 and 2022.
• Coastline: India has a marine position with 7,517 kilometers of coastline. Nine of India’s states have access to the coastline. 
• Shipping Industry: A modal share of coastal shipping has the potential to increase to 33% by 2035, up from roughly 6% presently. 
• Oil and gas trade: Most of the country’s oil and gas is supplied by sea, leading to the Indian Ocean region being critical to India’s economic growth.  
• Global economic corridor: The Indian Ocean’s Blue Economy has become a global economic corridor. It is the world’s third-largest body of water, covering 68.5 million square km and rich in oil and mineral resources. 

Measures by India:

• Resource inventories: Under the schemes “Ocean—Services, Modelling, Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)” and “Deep Ocean Mission (DOM)” of MoES, resource inventories for energy, fisheries, and minerals have been taken up. 
• Exploration of Polymetallic Nodules: The Government of India has been given rights for the exploration of polymetallic nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB).
  • The seabed is known to contain polymetallic nodules, polymetallic sulfides, and cobalt-rich manganese crusts.
  • India’s estimated polymetallic nodule resource potential is 380 million tonnes, containing 4.7 million tonnes of nickel, 4.29 million tonnes of copper 0.55 million tonnes of cobalt, and 92.59 million tonnes of manganese. 
  • These are critical for transitioning to a low-carbon economy that pivots on wind, solar and geothermal power. For instance, an electric car battery needs nearly 8 kilograms of Lithium, 35 kilograms of nickel, 20 kilograms of manganese, and 14 kilograms of cobalt. 
• Inclusive Approach: According to the Sixth National Report (NR6) to the CBD, India is on pace to meet its biodiversity targets and has exceeded many of them with stronger inclusion of local communities, Indigenous peoples, and women in conservation activities. The 2017 Wetland Conservation Rules in India promoted the concept of “wise use,” which involves people in conservation.
• Preventing coral bleaching: The Coastal Ocean Monitoring and Prediction System (COMAPS) and Coral Bleaching Alert System (CBAS) are two measures the Indian government has taken to save its coral reefs.
• Mangrove protection: To collaborate on the implementation of initiatives in mangrove areas, Andhra Pradesh has established eco-development committees and Van Samrakshan Samithis. 

International Alliances: 

• International Blue Carbon Initiative: “Magical Mangroves—Join the Movement” to combat climate change through the preservation and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems underlines the importance of protecting mangroves

• Alliance for Blue Nature: It is an international collaboration with the goal of advancing Ocean Conservation Areas.
• GloLitter Partnerships Project: It seeks to assist the fishing and maritime transportation industries in transitioning to a post-plastic world.
• London Convention: A 1972 treaty on preventing marine pollution by the discharge of wastes and other materials.
• Global Programme of Action (GPA): It aims to protect marine environments from land-based activities.

Other Initiatives: 

• Southeast Asian initiatives:  To balance coastal conservation and development with habitat and ecological protection, such as “blue infrastructure development” and “building with nature” techniques, are being adopted.
• One Health model: It unifies ecosystems, agriculture, wildlife, and urban environments into a single approach to the well-being of people and the environment.
• Biodiversity Vision 2050: The biodiversity vision for 2050 calls for the importance, preservation, restoration, and judicious use of biodiversity.
• UN’s 30X30 goal: safeguarding at least 30% of the earth by 2030.

Conservation Of Marine Resources

Oceans are the lifeblood of planet Earth and mankind. The humankind depend on marine resources for their survival. They are also essential for economic prosperity, social well-being, and quality of life. Oceans have extensive deposits of oil reserves. Besides a major fishing ground, it helps in generating non-conventional energy, and the development of many ports and harbors for trade activities. Coastal tourism also attracts people around the world, thereby contributing to the economy of many countries.

Source URL: https://energyindustryreview.com/analysis/why-blue-economy-is-so-important/