India is contemplating the establishment of an underwater biodiversity research laboratory in the Indian Ocean to study various types of seabed flora and fauna at different depths. This initiative aims to explore the potential of these marine resources for human consumption. The lab, a part of the government’s long-term vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, is being conceptualized under the Deep Ocean Mission. It seeks to position India as a transnational and regional hub for marine biology and biotechnology research.
A senior government official said that the underwater lab will be among the most technologically advanced facilities for the exploration and conservation of deep-sea biodiversity. “The proposal is at a concept stage, and several rounds of deliberation between key stakeholders will be held before it gets onto the drawing board,” the official stated.
According to the official, the lab will be responsible for creating an inventory of deep-sea fauna and flora in the Indian Ocean through systematic sampling. The government believes that the deep-sea contains novel biomolecules of industrial and biomedical importance. The exploration of deep-sea organisms, particularly microorganisms, is expected to open up new frontiers in drug discovery and development.
Source: The Economic Times
