Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 29: Currently, the region is witnessing only fishing activity in the sea. In the future generation of chemicals needed for pharmaceutical companies and the production of food also will begin. As a prelude to this ambitious programme, a 'Biotech Innovation Centre for Aqua Marine', will come up here. The state budget finds a mention about this centre costing Rs 6 crore. If this centre is established here, more investment and employment opportunities will open up.

As per the current information, this new centre will be opened at the fisheries college here.

Representative image

Marine Biotech Centre will be on the model of the 'Blue Economy' mentioned by the central government's ministry of geology. In foreign countries, organic extracts are processed and new products are produced.

Therefore, there will be a spurt in the role of sea products in the fields of medicines and other areas. In India, large scale research in this field has not been undertaken.

Dean of the fisheries college here, Dr Senthil Vel, says that the coastal belt has an opportunity for new research and production by using sea resources. He said that water resources are being used for medicines in foreign countries.

The proposed centre is expected to meet the lack of a research centre for sea products like the ones in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The centre can create new products through seaweeds, research and generation of some chemicals needed by factories, research on biofuel by using sea moss, use of bio technology, and saline water processing among others.