Thiruvananthapuram: Hindu mythology has it that Lord Parashuram hurled his axe into the sea from atop the Sahyadri ranges. The sea receded and a landmass emerged on the south-western fringe of Bharathvarsha, which came to be known as Keralam—the land of coconut.
As in the myth, so in reality, the sea has been central to Kerala’s story since ancient times, shaping its history, culture and economy.
Now, Kerala is all set to return to the sea to impart momentum and scale to its slow-sailing economy.
Long and diverse marine ecosystem
Kerala has a 600-km-long coastline stretching from Thiruvananthapuram in the south to Kasaragod in the north.
This rich and diverse marine ecosystem is home to hundreds of fishing villages, two major ports and 17 non-major harbours, a string of fishing ports, beach tourism destinations and seafood processing units.
The coastline is connected with west-flowing rivers, backwater systems, canals and inlets, together making a natural and integrated landscape ideal for sustainable enterprises, tourism and a multimodal logistics network.
Govt charts plan to propel the journey
In its very first Budget presented last month, the V.D. Satheesan Government charted out broad plans to tap the state’s Blue Economy potential in a big way.
The project, ‘Mission Samudra’, seeks to integrate Kerala’s coastline, its international seaports, including the Vizhinjam International Container Transshipment Terminal, 17 non-major ports and the entire aquatic infrastructure.
Flaunted as a “visionary project”, the mission aims to develop Kerala into a “cohesive port city” by marking it firmly on the global maritime map over the next five years.
Taking the plan forward, the government will come out with a comprehensive maritime policy to turn the state into a major seaborne freight transport hub.
The initiative would promote investments in port-led businesses, logistics, and shipping- and navigation-related enterprises.
The mission will also come out with sub-plans and strategies to leverage sites, structures and other assets across non-major ports to foster maritime tourism, logistics, industries and maritime legal education.
A maritime museum showcasing the heritage of the state’s mercantile links with the Middle East and the Mediterranean will also be set up through a public-private partnership.
The museum can take visitors down memory lane to the days when Kerala was globally renowned as the storied Spice Coast, towards which merchant ships from distant lands set sail, propelled by the monsoon winds. It would also narrate how mercantile relations led to cultural encounters that continue to leave a lasting imprint on Kerala society.
A water transport system interconnecting both major and minor ports will be developed, which could also become a major tourist attraction.
The initial phase of the mission prioritises the establishment of a highly efficient freight transit system, followed by the rollout of passenger services, culminating in a unified and integrated network linked with the state’s inland waterways.
The Budget earmarked an initial allocation of ₹400 crore for Mission Samudra projects.
Not a bolt from the blue
The idea of developing Kerala as a global Blue Economy hub has not emerged all of a sudden.
The previous LDF government last year organised a two-day Blue Economy Conclave in Thiruvananthapuram in partnership with the Government of India and the European Union (EU).
The focus of the event was to explore collaboration with EU countries to promote ocean-based growth. The conclave was attended by delegates from several European countries, including diplomats, policymakers, investors and academics. It also drew up a broad framework for taking the project forward based on the deliberations.
European countries, being a major market for seafood exports from Kerala, are well aware of the state’s strengths in the sector.
A sensitive domain that calls for guardrails
Significantly, Kerala’s initiative comes against the backdrop of global recognition of the Blue Economy as one of the most promising future growth sectors, provided it is aligned with the principles of sustainable development.
The promotion of the Blue Economy aims not only to harness the enormous economic potential of the oceans but also to conserve aquatic and marine ecosystems, many of which are under increasing threat from environmental degradation and overexploitation.
Kerala’s coast sustains both traditional and mechanised fishing activities, with coastal communities constituting a sizeable segment of the population.
Though the scope is immense, ramping up sea-based economic activities calls for sustainable, inclusive and responsible strategies, while factoring in critical issues such as biodiversity protection, safeguards for coastal communities, equitable access to marine resources and climate resilience.
Address concerns of fishing communities
It is equally important to take coastal communities on board while implementing projects that directly affect their lives and livelihoods.
The state’s fisherfolk population is estimated at around 10.71 lakh. A majority of fishing families continue to depend on traditional fishing practices. Their lives are already shaped by multiple uncertainties. They are among the first to experience the consequences of climate change, marine pollution, overexploitation of resources through industrial-scale fishing operations, coastal erosion and the gradual depletion of marine life.
All these vulnerabilities make coastal communities naturally cautious about major projects coming up close to their fishing villages.
Their genuine concerns need to be addressed through appropriate safeguards, including credible assurances that they will become both direct and indirect beneficiaries of the Blue Economy initiatives.
