Bhavasagara and Agharkar Institute Notified as National Repositories for Deep-Sea Fauna

Deep-Sea Biodiversity: New National Repositories Designated

The Government of India has formally notified new research centers as National Repositories under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. This initiative aims to strengthen the conservation and systematic study of India's vast deep-sea biological resources.

Designated Centers

• Bhavasagara Referral Centre: Located at the Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE) in Kochi, Kerala, this center will focus specifically on marine biodiversity and deep-sea fauna.

• Agharkar Research Institute (ARI): Located in Pune, Maharashtra, this premier institute has also been designated to preserve and document unique biological samples.

Scope and Functions

These repositories will serve as centralized facilities for:

• Specimen Preservation: Storing voucher specimens of animals collected from the deep ocean.

• Genetic Documentation: Keeping DNA data and genetic sequences of newly discovered species in Indian waters.

• Research Support: Providing a standardized database for scientists to study marine evolution and environmental impacts.

For TNPSC and Civil Services aspirants, this is an important update under "Environment - Biodiversity Conservation" and "National Institutions," highlighting India's infrastructure development for the Deep Ocean Mission.