Workers at Grove Beach in Kovalam collect plastic nurdles that continue to pollute Kerala’s coast following the sinking of container vessel MSC ELSA-3 last year, in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. June 8 is celebrated as World Oceans Day to raise awareness on the vital role played by oceans and to protect marine ecosystem.
| Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
Sustainable development of marine resources, responsible maritime governance and conservation should become the centerpieces of development policy, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said.
Kerala’s 600-km coastline and the sea offers unlimited opportunities for the State’s economy, Mr. Satheesan said on Sunday ahead of the World Oceans Day observance on Monday (June 8). Mr. Satheesan said the World Oceans Day 2026 is an important day for the United Democratic Front (UDF) government in Kerala, as one of its “dream projects” (Mission Samudra for transforming Kerala into a global maritime hub) is closely linked to the ocean.
In the first phase of this programme, the government aims to develop coastal shipping linking the small and big ports along the Kerala coast. The idea is to shift at least 50% of the cargo movement from the State’s roads to sea routes. In the second phase, the government intends to develop cruise shipping, and in the third, interlink all these activities with the rivers and lakes in the interior.
“As Kerala transforms into a ‘port city,’ it will generate lakhs of new employment opportunities. It should be kept in mind that the port sector accounts for 28% of Dubai’s gross domestic product. In that sense, our sea and coastline offers unlimited opportunities,” Mr. Satheesan said in his World Oceans Day message.
Gateway to India
Observing that Kerala can easily be described as a gateway to India, the Chief Minister said the region is suited for maritime development from a historical and economic perspective. Mr. Satheesan underscored the need to use Kerala’s port-maritime sector as the chief catalyst for its future development. Towards this objective, there is a need to boost sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, ocean-based renewable energy technology, logistics, ship building, coastal tourism, maritime clusters, clean fuel, cruise tourism, maritime heritage tourism, and maritime universities and research, he said.
The State’s 17 non-major ports, the Vizhinjam international seaport and the Kochi port, the Cochin Shipyard, numerous fishing harbours, national waterways, world-renowned backwaters and tourism networks form its chief maritime assets, he said. Vizhinjam port has the potential to become a model for Asia in sustainable port development, the Chief Minister said.
At the same time, the State needs to overcome challenges posed by pollution of the ocean, climate-change-related challenges and coastal erosion, Mr. Satheesan added.
The United Nations has instituted World Oceans Day on June 8 to “inform the public of the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilise and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.”
Published – June 07, 2026 09:28 pm IST
