Odisha Becomes First State to Launch Marine Spatial Plan | 20 Apr 2026

Why in News?  

Odisha has become the first state in India to launch a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) aimed at sustainable management of marine and coastal resources while promoting the Blue Economy.  

Key Points  

• Initiative: Odisha became the first Indian state to roll out a Marine Spatial Plan in its second phase.  
• MoU: The state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Centre for Coastal Research under the Ministry of Earth Sciences for implementing the plan.  
• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): MSP is a data-driven planning tool that maps marine areas and allocates zones for activities such as fishing, tourism, shipping, conservation, and energy projects.  
• Objective: The initiative aims to balance economic growth with environmental protection and ensure sustainable use of marine resources.  
  • The plan supports the development of the Blue Economy.  
• International Collaboration: The initiative is part of the India–Norway cooperation on sustainable ocean management, launched in 2019.  
  • The first phase of the programme was implemented in Puducherry and Lakshadweep.