(a) whether the Government are making any efforts to identify the ocean biotechnology;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons thereof;
(d) whether the biotechnology has got no scope in the field of ocean; and
(e) if so, the steps taken by the Government to develop the ocean biotechnology?
MINISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)
(a) Yes, Sir.
(b) A National Project on ‘Drugs from the Sea’ to exploit the marine flora and fauna for development of
drugs and traditional remedies is under implementation. In addition to this, studies are also undertaken on
Indian horseshoe crab to detect the bioactive compound, marine fish tissues/oils to produce Eicosa
Pentaenoic Acid, useful in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, neuropeptides of cyanobacteria of
Arabian sea for production of endotoxins and exotoxins, and on marine seaweeds for bioactive properties
useful in developing anti-cancer drugs.
(c) Does not arise.
(d) No, Sir.
(e) The Departments of Biotechnology and Ocean Development and Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research, have a number of programmes ongoing in the IX Plan. The R & D in marine biotechnology
would be continued with greater emphasis in the X Five Year Plan, which is under formulation.