Marine Spatial Plan: Odisha's bid to strengthen climate resilience, Pg15

Key Highlights:

• Odisha government partnered with the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) to launch a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP).
• Odisha is the first state in India to implement MSP in the second phase of sustainable ocean planning.
• The MSP aims to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives through sustainable ocean management.
• Odisha has a coastline of over 550 km, including lagoons, mangroves, and estuaries.
• In August 2025, Odisha launched the Odisha Marine Biotechnology Research and Innovation Corridor (OMBRIC).

Detailed Insights:

• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) is a tool for sustainable and integrated ocean management, boosting the blue economy and strengthening climate resilience.
• The MSP will aid in the sustainable utilization of marine resources in energy and economic activities, such as developing ports and setting up industries.
• The NCCR will study the water components of the ocean adjoining Odisha’s coast, mapping vegetation and preparing parameters for various activities.
• The initiative will help the state government formulate appropriate policies for the development of multiple economic sectors in coastal areas.
• OMBRIC aims to promote biotechnology for marine environmental protection, support marine biotech startups, and aid research and scientific tourism.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): A public process for analyzing and allocating human activities in marine areas to achieve ecological, economic, and social objectives.
• Blue Economy: Sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.
• Benthic Mapping: Mapping of the vegetation and organisms that live on or in the bottom sediments of a body of water.