national institute of oceanography

India's first artificial marine museum, featuring a scuttled naval vessel, is set to open off the Sindhudurg coast by December 2027. Tourists will soon explore the underwater site via a 26-seater submarine, offering a unique marine tourism experience. This ambitious project aims to boost local economy and position Maharashtra as a global underwater destination.

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) and Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) are revolutionizing naval operations and civilian sectors with their stealth, persistence, and risk reduction capabilities. Navies are investing heavily in these platforms for surveillance, mine warfare, and reconnaissance, while also finding dual-use applications in disaster response and oceanographic research.

For the first time in 40 years, a vital Pacific Ocean upwelling off Panama failed in 2025. This biological engine, crucial for fish populations and coastal communities, didn't activate as trade winds weakened. Scientists, monitoring this rare event, suspect climate disruption, raising alarms about interconnected ocean systems and the need for better tropical ocean observation.

Rapid climate change is overwhelming ecosystems like redwoods and seagrass, threatening biodiversity. Scientists are now using conservation genomics to identify and propagate species resilient to extreme conditions, aiding restoration efforts. While promising for long-lived species, this approach isn't a standalone solution and reducing emissions remains paramount for ecosystem survival.

The project is being implemented by a joint team of scientists both from CSIR-NIO Regional Centre at Vishakhapatnam and Goa.

An action plan on climate change for the state will be taken up in collaboration with the national institute of oceanography (NIO), minister for science, technology and environment, Aleixo Sequeira informed the Goa assembly on Wednesday.