India, Feb. 1 -- While the initiative promises positive impacts on the 14 million people along India's coastline, apprehensions loom regarding potential maladaptation resulting from ill-conceived measures

The interim budget speech delivered by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 provided a boost to Blue Economy 2.0 with the announcement of a new scheme "for restoration and adaptation measures, coastal aquaculture, and mariculture with an integrated and multi-sectoral approach".

The Union minister, however, refrained from revealing specific details regarding the budget allocation for the scheme or the activities it would entail.

While this development is positive for the 14 million people engaged in fisheries and all...