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Abstract Submission No. | ABS-2022-01-0153 |
Title of Abstract | Priming primary production for Blue Economy in the Bay of: Bengal: Prospects |
Authors | VVSS Sarma*, D.V. Subba Rao, G.V.M. Gupta |
Organisation | CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography |
Address | 176 Lawsons Bay Colony, CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography Visakhapatnam, ANDHRA PRADESH, India Pincode: 530017 Mobile: 9848457779 E-mail: sarmav@nio.org |
Country | India |
Presentation | Oral |
Abstract | The Bay of Bengal (BoB) received significant amount of freshwater discharge by major rivers that lead to existence of brackish condition in the upper layers. The less dense waters stratify waters and do not facilitate vertical enrichment. Thus, the primary production in the BoB is severely restrained due to scarcity of essential nutrients. Through artificial upwelling these waters to surface, it is possible to enhance primary production leading to sequester atmospheric CO2 and promote fishery in the BoB. On the other hand, the impact of enhanced primary production on other physico-chemical characteristics of the BoB needs to be evaluated. For example, BoB has one of the worlds thickest oxygen minimum zones (OMZ) in the northwestern BoB and enhanced primary production may intensify OMZ. These conditions present a threat for marine living resources and the climate, which are already under duress due to ongoing climate change. For conducting such eutrophication experiments and to test Blue Economy concepts, identification of a suitable region in the BoB will be necessary. The eastern BoB (Andaman Sea) is influenced by eddies resulting in existence of oxygen-rich subsurface waters due to ventilation of surface waters. Therefore, such regions are potential to increase primary production through artificial upwelling and the dependent fishery production and atmospheric CO 2 sequestration as well. Negative impacts, such as increase in organic matter load, changes in pH, bacterial growth, diversity of plankton, must be evaluated due to nutrient enrichment experiments. It would therefore be necessary to assess the Ecological Carrying Capacity of the water body and attention has not been paid to tropical and subtropical seas. However, caution is warranted to monitor the response and recovery of the ecosystem due to artificial upwelling and potential consequences on the biology of the BoB. |