Ministry of Earth Sciences press release · 30 March 2026 · pibtracker filter

“Bhavasagara” Referral Centre Designated as India’s National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna

PRID2247110 MinistryMinistry of Earth Sciences Released30 March 2026 Reading9 min

Posted On: 30 MAR 2026 9:17PM by PIB Delhi The Center for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala , under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has achieved a landmark milestone in marine conservation. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially designated CMLRE’s “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna . This prestigious recognition, conferred under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 , establishes the Centre as a critical national facility for the preservation, study, and documentation of India's vast deep-sea biological heritage. The “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre currently serves as a vital scientific hub, housing an extensive collection of over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens . The collection spans a diverse range of marine life, from invertebrates—including cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms—to vertebrates such as elasmobranchs and teleostean fishes. Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences , emphasized the strategic importance of this designation: "The recognition of ‘Bhavasagara’ as a National Repository is a definitive step toward strengthening India’s blue economy and marine biodiversity framework. By centralizing the custody of deep-sea specimens and their genetic data, we are not only preserving our natural history but also providing a foundational resource for future generations of ocean scientists to unlock the mysteries of the deep sea." Under the Biological Diversity Act, the Repository is authorized to: Maintain Secure Custody: Preserve representative biological samples as voucher specimens along with critical associated data, such as DNA sequences, for future scientific reference. Hold Type Specimens: Act as the official custodian for any new deep-sea species discovered within Indian waters. Capacity Building: Foster expertise in deep-sea taxonomy, aligning with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) . This designation marks a significant leap forward in India’s deep-sea research capabilities. CMLRE invites researchers, academic institutions, and environmental stakeholders to utilize this facility and collaborate in strengthening the nation’s framework for marine biodiversity conservation. About CMLRE: The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) is a premier institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, dedicated to the exploration, management, and conservation of marine living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent deep seas. *** NKR/JKP (Release ID: 2247110) Visitor Counter : 2314 Read this release in: Urdu , हिन्दी Ministry of Earth Sciences “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre Designated as India’s National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna Posted On: 30 MAR 2026 9:17PM by PIB Delhi The Center for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala , under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has achieved a landmark milestone in marine conservation. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially designated CMLRE’s “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna . This prestigious recognition, conferred under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 , establishes the Centre as a critical national facility for the preservation, study, and documentation of India's vast deep-sea biological heritage. The “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre currently serves as a vital scientific hub, housing an extensive collection of over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens . The collection spans a diverse range of marine life, from invertebrates—including cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms—to vertebrates such as elasmobranchs and teleostean fishes. Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences , emphasized the strategic importance of this designation: "The recognition of ‘Bhavasagara’ as a National Repository is a definitive step toward strengthening India’s blue economy and marine biodiversity framework. By centralizing the custody of deep-sea specimens and their genetic data, we are not only preserving our natural history but also providing a foundational resource for future generations of ocean scientists to unlock the mysteries of the deep sea." Under the Biological Diversity Act, the Repository is authorized to: Maintain Secure Custody: Preserve representative biological samples as voucher specimens along with critical associated data, such as DNA sequences, for future scientific reference. Hold Type Specimens: Act as the official custodian for any new deep-sea species discovered within Indian waters. Capacity Building: Foster expertise in deep-sea taxonomy, aligning with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030) . This designation marks a significant leap forward in India’s deep-sea research capabilities. CMLRE invites researchers, academic institutions, and environmental stakeholders to utilize this facility and collaborate in strengthening the nation’s framework for marine biodiversity conservation. About CMLRE: The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) is a premier institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, dedicated to the exploration, management, and conservation of marine living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent deep seas. *** NKR/JKP (Release ID: 2247110) The Center for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala , under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has achieved a landmark milestone in marine conservation. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially designated CMLRE’s “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna. This prestigious recognition, conferred under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, establishes the Centre as a critical national facility for the preservation, study, and documentation of India's vast deep-sea biological heritage. The “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre currently serves as a vital scientific hub, housing an extensive collection of over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens. The collection spans a diverse range of marine life, from invertebrates—including cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms—to vertebrates such as elasmobranchs and teleostean fishes. Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, emphasized the strategic importance of this designation: "The recognition of ‘Bhavasagara’ as a National Repository is a definitive step toward strengthening India’s blue economy and marine biodiversity framework. By centralizing the custody of deep-sea specimens and their genetic data, we are not only preserving our natural history but also providing a foundational resource for future generations of ocean scientists to unlock the mysteries of the deep sea." Under the Biological Diversity Act, the Repository is authorized to: <ul style="margin-left:40px"> <li style="text-align: justify;">Maintain Secure Custody: Preserve representative biological samples as voucher specimens along with critical associated data, such as DNA sequences, for future scientific reference.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Hold Type Specimens: Act as the official custodian for any new deep-sea species discovered within Indian waters.</li> <li style="text-align: justify;">Capacity Building: Foster expertise in deep-sea taxonomy, aligning with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030).</li> </ul> This designation marks a significant leap forward in India’s deep-sea research capabilities. CMLRE invites researchers, academic institutions, and environmental stakeholders to utilize this facility and collaborate in strengthening the nation’s framework for marine biodiversity conservation. About CMLRE: The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) is a premier institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, dedicated to the exploration, management, and conservation of marine living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent deep seas. *** NKR/JKP " /> var mPlayer = document.getElementById("background_music"); var mPlayAction = document.getElementById("playbutton"); var isPlaying = false; function playAudio() { mPlayer.play(); isPlaying = true; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "none"; } function pauseAudio() { mPlayer.pause(); isPlaying = false; document.getElementById('playA').style.display = "block"; document.getElementById('stopA').style.display = "none"; } //function HandleAudio() { // if (isPlaying == true) { // //Playing already Pause it // pauseAudio(); // } else { // //Play the music // playAudio(); // } //} var synth = window.speechSynthesis; 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“Bhavasagara” Referral Centre Designated as India’s National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna

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