Marine Resources

Marine Resources ecosystems play role in supporting economic prosperity and social welfare in developing countries. They sustain the livelihoods of millions of poor households; provide multiple ecosystem services that are essential for life, yield vast amounts of food, and play a critical role in driving weather and climate. India is rich in marine resources. It can be divided in two parts: Abiotic and Biotic resources

Abiotic Resources

These resources are non-living and fall under the category of natural resources, which occur naturally in the environment but are not created or produced by humans or human activity. For Example- water, air, soil, sunlight, and minerals.

Biotic resources

These resources are living things and are obtained from the biosphere and are capable of reproduction.  For Examples - animals, birds, plants, fungi, and other similar organisms.

Fact about Marine resources

• India is third largest salt producing country in the World. Salt producing state in India- Gujarat > Tamil Nadu > Rajasthan

• Petroleum and natural gas are being extracted from Bombay High, Bassein region, the Gulf of Khambhat (Islands of Aliabet and Khaliabet). All are in the Arabian Sea. The large areas of petroleum and natural gas are Kachchh, area of Ravva structure in the Krishna-Godavari basin in Andhra Pradesh, Perangulam coastal region in Tamil Nadu and Kerala- Konkan coastal region.

• The Gulf of Kachchh, the Gulf Khamabhat and the Sunderbans are suitable for tidal energy. ‘Durgaduani Creek’ in West Bengal is the tidal energy centre.

• Catfish is done in Tanjore (Tamil Nadu).

• Conch shells (Shankh) are found in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu and Saurashtra.