Marine scientists and policy experts have called for the urgent creation of Indian Standards for marine and coastal management to ensure the long-term sustainability of the country’s ocean ecosystems and fisheries.
The appeal was made during a workshop on marine biodiversity conservation and standardisation, jointly organised by the ICAR–Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS).
Participants stressed that a national framework is needed to address key areas such as fisheries stock assessment, coastal resource mapping, climate adaptation and ecosystem-based management.
Indian Standards – official documents developed through expert engagement – would help unify conservation practices and ensure scientifically sound, reliable data for policy and international collaboration.
“Marine biodiversity is fundamental to ecosystem stability, fisheries and climate resilience,” said Dr Grinson George, director of CMFRI.
“Yet, the absence of uniform protocols has led to fragmented data and weak enforcement.” He pledged the institute’s leadership in developing scientific methodologies and training modules to be codified as national standards in collaboration with BIS.
Such standards would also help India align with global agreements like the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, boosting both conservation outcomes and international trade competitiveness.
Shri Virendra Singh, head of the BIS Environment and Ecology Department, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to creating robust environmental standards to support India’s marine fisheries sector.
The workshop also proposed launching an Indian Marine Sustainability Certification System under BIS as an inclusive and cost-effective alternative to international certifications, making sustainability more accessible to local stakeholders.
