On September 3, 2024, the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE), an attached office of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, hosted a national-level workshop on the Indian Ocean Biodiversity Information System (IndOBIS) at its Kochi campus. The event gathered scientists and researchers from various institutions across the country, focusing on raising awareness about marine biodiversity data documentation and publishing.
Key Highlights
Opening Remarks: Dr. M Ravichandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), praised CMLRE for conducting the inaugural IndOBIS workshop. He emphasized the importance of deep-sea biodiversity exploration and conservation, aligning with India’s Deep Ocean Mission and Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG-14), which focuses on life below water.
Director’s Address: Dr. GVM Gupta, Director of CMLRE, highlighted the significance of IndOBIS in marine biodiversity documentation and data sharing. He described the workshop’s aim to enable researchers to submit scientifically standardized marine biodiversity data, contribute to the global knowledge pool, and foster international collaboration.
About IndOBIS
IndOBIS is the Indian regional node of the global Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). OBIS is a major global repository for marine species information, containing millions of records from various datasets. It provides detailed data on species distribution, habitats, and environmental parameters and offers tools for data visualization and download. Supported by a network of nearly 30 regional nodes, OBIS is a key resource for marine science, conservation, and education, managed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO.
Workshop Objectives and Impact
The workshop served as a platform for training and capacity building in data acquisition, analysis, and management of marine biodiversity in the Indian Ocean. The data accepted by IndOBIS is scientifically quality-controlled and geotagged, enabling innovative studies on species distribution, biodiversity hotspots, and climate change impacts. This data supports adaptive management strategies and sustainable fisheries.
Introduction of Ocean Eyes App
Aligned with IndOBIS’s objective to raise marine biodiversity awareness, CMLRE introduced the Ocean Eyes mobile application. This app facilitates citizen engagement in marine biodiversity monitoring by allowing users to record sightings, log environmental conditions, and upload geotagged photos. The app is available for free on iOS and Android platforms and enables real-time data reporting to IndOBIS.
About CMLRE
Established in 1998, CMLRE is a premier research institution under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. It focuses on studying and sustainably managing marine living resources in India, conducting cutting-edge research, and supporting policy development for marine ecosystem protection and conservation. CMLRE maintains voucher specimens of deep-sea biodiversity and manages the IndOBIS portal, accessible at IndOBIS.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What was the primary focus of the IndOBIS workshop held on September 3, 2024?
- A) Climate Change Policy
- B) Marine Biodiversity Data Documentation and Publishing
- C) Oceanographic Instrumentation
- D) Marine Tourism
- Who is the Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences?
- A) Dr. GVM Gupta
- B) Dr. M Ravichandran
- C) Dr. Amitabh Singh
- D) Dr. Neelam Sharma
- What is the purpose of the Ocean Eyes mobile application?
- A) To track marine pollution levels
- B) To engage citizens in marine biodiversity monitoring
- C) To map underwater shipwrecks
- D) To record oceanographic data
- Which organization manages the global Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS)?
- A) World Health Organization (WHO)
- B) Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO
- C) International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- D) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- What types of data does IndOBIS accept?
- A) Historical climate records
- B) Marine biodiversity literature and occurrence records
- C) Weather forecasts
- D) Coastal erosion data