The Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has designated Kochi based Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE’s) “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act 2002. This prestigious recognition, establishes this Centre as a critical national facility for the preservation, study, and documentation of India’s vast deep-sea biological heritage.
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.
About Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE)
It is a premier institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, established in 1998. It dedicated to the exploration, management, and conservation of marine living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent deep seas.
Bhavasagara Referral Centre
It serves as a vital scientific hub, housing an extensive collection of over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens.
Its collection spans a diverse range of marine life, from invertebrates—including cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms—to vertebrates such as elasmobranchs and teleostean fish.