India’s National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna

 The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially designated the Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology’s (CMLRE) “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna. This marks a significant advancement in India's deep-sea research capabilities. 

Bhavasagara Referral Centre

• Recognized under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, establishing it as a vital national facility for preservation and study of deep-sea biological heritage.
• According to Dr. M. Ravichandran, this step strengthens India’s blue economy and marine biodiversity framework.
• Currently houses a significant collection of taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens.

Functions under the Biological Diversity Act

• Capacity Building: Enhance expertise in deep-sea taxonomy in line with UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development goals.
• Secure Custody: Preserve biological samples and critical data for future reference.
• Hold Type Specimens: Serve as custodian for new deep-sea species discovered in Indian waters.

 The CMLRE, under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, explores and conserves marine resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 aims for biodiversity conservation, sustainable use of resources, and equitable sharing of benefits. 

Deep-Sea Characteristics

• The deep sea is the oldest and largest biome on Earth, referring to ocean regions below about 200 meters.
• It constitutes nearly 90–95% of Earth’s habitable space.
• Despite harsh conditions, it supports diverse life forms and vital marine ecosystems.
• Deep-sea currents influence global weather and nutrient cycles, crucial for marine food webs.
• Deep-sea organisms provide resources for pharmaceuticals and commercial products, exemplified by the PCR test enzyme.

Threats to Deep-Sea Environments

• Destruction due to fishing and exploitation of resources.
• Deep-sea mining poses risk with minerals like nickel, cobalt, copper, and manganese targeted.
• Deep-sea organisms’ slow growth and recovery make them vulnerable to industrial activities.

International Maritime Laws and Agreements

• UNCLOS (1982): Legal framework for peaceful use and conservation of marine resources.
• UN Fish Stocks Agreement (1995): Regulates high seas fisheries and conservation.
• Convention on Biological Diversity (1992): Focuses on biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and benefit sharing.
• Sustainable Development Goals (2015): SDG 14 promotes ocean conservation and sustainable use.
• High Seas Treaty (2023): Addresses marine protected areas, genetic resources, environmental assessments, and technology transfer.

Recent Developments

• India signed the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement in 2024.
• The High Seas Treaty entered into force on January 17, 2026, following 60 state ratifications.

Sample UPSC Question

Consider the following statements about the deep sea:

• 1. It refers to ocean regions below about 200 meters.
• 2. It constitutes nearly 90–95% of Earth’s habitable space.
• 3. All deep-sea organisms are fast-growing and quickly recover from disturbances.

How many of the statements given above is/are correct?

• (a) Only one
• (b) Only two
• (c) All three
• (d) None