Lok Sabha Question No. 149 (STARRED), answered on 2023-12-13
Subject: MoU for Cooperation in Marine Science and Ecology
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: Chinta Anuradha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *149 TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## MoU for Cooperation in Marine Science and Ecology

## * 149.          SHRIMATI CHINTA ANURADHA:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  Memorandum  of  Understandings  (MoUs)  signed  between India  and  Vietnam  towards  promotion  of  scientific  and  technical  cooperation in marine science and ecology;
- (b) the projected impact of the same;
- (c) the  details  of  other  such  MoUs  signed  for  cooperation  in  the  field  of  marine science;
- (d) whether the Government is in talks with other countries for signing more such MoUs; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a) to (e):     A statement is laid on the table of the House.

## STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.*149 REGARDING 'MoU FOR COOPERATION IN MARINE SCIENCE AND ECOLOGY' FOR ANSWER ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13 TH , 2023

- (a) A  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU)  has  been  signed  on  17 th December 2021  between  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  (MoES),  Government  of  India  and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the Government of Vietnam for scientific and technical cooperation in marine science and ecology for  knowledge  sharing  and  capacity  building.  National  Centre  for  Coastal Research  (NCCR),  an  attached  office  of  MoES  from  India  and  Vietnam Administration  of  Seas  and  Islands  (VASI)  under  MONRE,  are  working  on Marine Science and Ecology and the delegation from Vietnam has visited during October 2023 and worked out plan of action.
- (b) The project benefits/results includes Capacity building and knowledge sharing of  best  practices  of  coastal  conservation,  disaster  risk  reduction,  mitigation  of coastal erosion and also identification of pilot locations for implementation of coastal protection strategies.
- (c) Details of other MoUs signed for cooperation in the field of marine sciences are listed in the below table.
- (d)& (e) No  proposals  are  pending  with  the  Ministry  of  Earth  Sciences  for  signing  of MoUs with other countries for cooperation in the field of marine sciences.

|   S.No | Country with which India has MoU                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|      1 | Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), UK signed an MoU in 2019 for marine litter and micro plastics research.                                                                                  |
|      2 | The India - Norway Ocean Dialogue was signed on 8th January, 2019 for evolving best practices for governing coastal and marine areas and maritime cooperation and ocean research.                                           |
|      3 | Under the MoU at Sl No 2, Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway signed Letter of Intent (LoI) on the 18th February, 2020 for Integrated Ocean Management                                                    |
|      4 | The French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) IFREMER, France on July, 2023 for Deep Sea Technologies.                                                                                                |
|      5 | Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture of the Republic of Maldives on August 2022 for marine scientific research                                                                                           |
|      6 | The Government of India established the Sustainable Coastal and Ocean Research Institute (SCORI) in Fijion May 2023 to promote multilateral cooperation with pacific islands countries on ocean sciences and climate change |

|   7. | A PoC was signed with the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (FORMAS) during June 2022 along with DST and DBT for marine litter research.                                                                                                                          |
|------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|    8 | Under MoU between MoES and NOAA signed during April 2008, RAMA moorings are being deployed and maintained in the Indian Ocean for measurement of oceanographic and meteorological data to understand the thermohaline structure and numerical modeling for improved prediction of monsoon.                           |
|    9 | Japan Agency for Marine Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Japan and National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), signed a MoU on Sep, 2021 on the Application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in marine litter pollution research, Microplastic pollution and Assessment in the Arctic region. |

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