The oceans have always been unapproachable and we know less about the oceans surrounding our wonderful country and the diversity that lies in them. The government of India had been planning for long to explore the ocean and assess the opportunities and resources that lay in it.

With this ambition, the Indian government has launched the Deep Ocean Mission. Let us find out the details of the deep ocean mission.

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What Is The Deep Ocean Mission?

The Deep Ocean Mission is an initiative by the government of India aimed at exploring the oceans that lay around our country. It aims to explore the resources that lay in seas and oceans and introduce sustainable technologies for deep-sea exploration and research. It also aims to find a way of using sea resources sustainably.

The Deep Ocean Mission was launched in October 2021 by the Ministry of Earth Sciences and has so far introduced multiple ventures such as the Samudrayaan which aims to send a man to unimaginable depths for mining and exploring the natural resources beneath.

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What Are The Developments Under The Deep Ocean Mission?

India has been allocated a site of 75,000sq km in the Central Indian Ocean Basin by the International SeaBed Authority (ISA) for the exploration of polymetallic nodules from the seabed in a 15-year contract.

Furthermore, a deep-sea vehicle named Matsya has been developed which will take 3 people at a time to a depth of 6000 metres. It has been developed by ISRO in collaboration with NIOT.

What Are The Components Of The Deep Ocean Mission?

The Deep Ocean Mission has six components. They are given below:

• Development of technologies for deep-sea mining and manned submersible.

• Development of ocean climate change advisory services.

• Technological innovations for sustainable use of marine bio-resources.

• Deep ocean survey and exploration

• Energy production from the ocean and offshore-based desalination

• Advanced marine station for ocean biology.

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What Are The Goals Of The Deep Ocean Mission?

The goals of the deep ocean mission are given below:

• Development of Deep-Sea Technologies: The government has developed Matsya-6000, capable of carrying three people to a depth of 6,000 metres.

• Exploration and Extraction of Resources: It wishes to explore and be able to mine polymetallic nodules, which contain valuable minerals like manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper.

• Ocean Climate Change Advisory Services: Developing a suite of observations and models to understand and provide future projections of important climate variables.

• Biodiversity and Ecosystem Studies: Studying deep-sea biodiversity and ecosystems to enhance our understanding and conservation of marine life.

• Support for Blue Economy: The mission focuses on the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.

• International Collaboration: Working with international bodies like the International Seabed Authority to ensure responsible exploration and extraction practices.

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Conclusion

India is transforming its ocean initiatives and taking them to competitive and huge heights. The deep ocean mission is a step towards progress in a holistic manner. This govt scheme will introduce multiple livelihood and exploratory options for the country.

For more information, reach out to the Ministry of Earth Sciences by dialling +91-11-24669578.