Author: Manan Agarwal, LL.M. Scholar at Gujarat Maritime University
INTRODUCTION
Oceans are said to be the world’s single largest ecosystem, which almost covers the three- fourth of earth’s surface, giving an immense arena for evolving complex and interrelated development matters such as commerce, livelihood, climate change and security. Ocean also plays a key role in the life of humans as it provides wide range of services and resources which directly supports the economies and the human health. The wideness of the ocean came into eyes nearly 60 years ago when the apollo missions produced the very first image of our planet from the space. The high seas are the widest part, which is around 64% of the total surface of the global ocean. The whole global ocean depends on the health of the high seas and the human health is dependent on the global ocean itself. The scientific research says the high seas and the earth entire system are interrelated. The Indian Government is becoming more conscious about the saving of resources in the high seas and are working on it through various policies. According to the Global Ocean Commission, ocean resources contribute more than 5% of the world’s GDP, and also it secures the jobs of more than four billion people and sustain the livelihoods of more than 400 million.
Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean among the world’s oceanic division which is covering more than 70 million sq km which includes the high seas and a wide Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) which is 200 nautical miles from the territorial waters. The sustainable and economic development issues in the Indian ocean are quite challenging as India’s one-third population relies on the resources produced by the marine for food security and livelihood. The concept of Blue Economy Policy 2021 aims at generating the livelihood, food security and also the climate change in the coming future. It will inspire the use of seas and oceans for the sustainable development growth.
This paper aims at the current governance structure for the blue economy and its prospective in the Indian ocean region. It will also address the gap in the existing legal structure and the policy frameworks at the regional and the national levels.
