What Happened
- The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), under ICAR, has launched a two-year deep-sea research programme worth Rs 4.986 crore to explore fishery resources linked to seamount ecosystems in the Arabian Sea.
- The expedition is funded by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and aligns with Vertical-3 of India's Deep Ocean Mission.
- The project focuses specifically on commercially and ecologically significant cephalopods — squid, cuttlefish, and octopus — that concentrate around seamount areas in the eastern and southeastern Arabian Sea.
- A key innovation is the development of AI-based tools for automated species identification of cephalopods, aimed at improving taxonomic precision and enabling scalable monitoring of deep-sea biodiversity.
- The first exploratory survey has already been completed using CMFRI's research vessel F.V. Silver Pompano, with parallel sampling from Azheekal Fishing Harbour in Kollam, Kerala.
- The project will build scientific understanding of seamount-associated biodiversity and develop data for sustainable deep-sea fisheries management.
Static Topic Bridges
Deep Ocean Mission — India's Blue Economy Push
The Deep Ocean Mission was approved by the Cabinet in June 2021 and launched on September 7, 2021, by the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) with a total outlay of Rs 4,077 crore over five years (2021-26). It is India's comprehensive programme for exploring and sustainably utilizing deep ocean resources — both living (fisheries, bioprospecting) and non-living (polymetallic nodules, hydrothermal vents).
- Six verticals: (1) Deep-sea mining technology including manned submersible Matsya 6000; (2) Ocean climate change advisory; (3) Deep-sea biodiversity exploration and conservation (under which CMFRI's seamount project falls); (4) Deep ocean survey and exploration; (5) Energy and freshwater from the ocean; (6) Advanced marine station for ocean biology.
- Vertical-3 specifically mandates inventorization of deep-sea fauna/flora at hotspots like seamounts, capacity building in deep-sea taxonomy, and genomic studies.
- Matsya 6000 (manned submersible): designed to carry 3 persons to 6,000-metre depth; developed by National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).
- Deep Ocean Mission is a key pillar of India's Blue Economy vision.
Connection to this news: CMFRI's seamount expedition directly implements Vertical-3 of the Deep Ocean Mission, making it a practical example of India operationalizing its Rs 4,077-crore ocean science commitment.
Seamounts — Ecology and Fishery Significance
Seamounts are underwater mountains rising from the ocean floor that do not reach the water surface. They are biodiversity hotspots because their hard surfaces, upwelling currents, and complex topography concentrate nutrients and marine life. Globally, an estimated 33,000-100,000+ seamounts exist; the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea host several important ones. Commercially valuable species — tuna, swordfish, orange roughy, cephalopods — aggregate around seamounts due to enhanced prey availability.
- Seamounts create upwelling zones that bring nutrient-rich deep water to surface layers, supporting large pelagic fish aggregations.
- Arabian Sea seamounts include the Laxmi Ridge, Carlsberg Ridge features, and others in the southeastern Arabian Sea.
- Deep-sea fisheries around seamounts are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation — fishing pressure can collapse populations rapidly due to species' slow reproduction rates.
- CMFRI has previously discovered a new deep-sea cephalopod species ("Indian Octopus Squid") in the Arabian Sea — highlighting the region's unexplored biodiversity.
Connection to this news: The CMFRI expedition will generate baseline data on cephalopod populations around Arabian Sea seamounts — essential for evidence-based fisheries management and conservation of these ecologically sensitive deep-sea habitats.
ICAR-CMFRI and India's Marine Fisheries Governance
The Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kochi, is India's premier marine fisheries research institution under the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR). It provides scientific basis for policy decisions on marine fisheries, conducts stock assessments, and monitors the health of India's exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which spans over 2.02 million sq km. India is the world's second-largest fish producer and third-largest exporter of fish and fishery products.
- India's EEZ: ~2.02 million sq km; coastline: ~7,516 km.
- India's marine fish production: approximately 4 million tonnes/year.
- Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management) Act, 2024: India's first comprehensive central law for regulating marine fisheries in EEZ waters; addresses licensing, conservation, and management of fish stocks.
- CMFRI's AI tools for cephalopod identification will contribute to India's capacity to meet international reporting obligations under UNCLOS and FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries.
Connection to this news: CMFRI's deep-sea expedition strengthens the scientific foundation for managing India's EEZ fisheries, particularly in poorly documented deep-sea zones where stock status is currently unknown.
Key Facts & Data
- Project cost: Rs 4.986 crore; duration: 2 years; funded by Ministry of Earth Sciences.
- Focus species: squid, cuttlefish, octopus (cephalopods) concentrated around Arabian Sea seamounts.
- Research vessel: F.V. Silver Pompano (CMFRI); parallel sampling from Azheekal Fishing Harbour, Kollam.
- Deep Ocean Mission: Rs 4,077 crore, 5-year programme, 6 verticals; launched September 2021.
- This project falls under Deep Ocean Mission Vertical-3 (deep-sea biodiversity exploration).
- AI tools being developed: automated species identification for cephalopods — a first for Indian deep-sea taxonomy.
- CMFRI previously discovered a new species — "Indian Octopus Squid" (Octopoteuthis sp.) — in the Arabian Sea.
- India's EEZ: ~2.02 million sq km; India is the 2nd largest fish producer globally.