World Ocean Day: Let’s shine light on Goa’s marine pollution
With a coastline of around 105 kms, the significance of the World Ocean Day, marked on June 8, cannot be emphasised enough in Goa.
On this day, it is important to turn the spotlight on the surge in the ocean pollution caused by human activities such as improper waste disposal and industrial runoff. It has posed grave threat to the health of the marine and freshwater ecosystems.
The ocean is the lifeline of Goa, sustaining its tourism, fishing industries, and other economic activities. So, there is an urgent need to initiate measures to check any further rise in the pollution levels that could cause irreparable harm to oceanic creatures and severely hit the State’s thriving marine-based industry.
Notably, many institutions and organisation are working towards finding solutions to mitigate the adverse impacts of marine pollution. Among them is the Department of Information Technology, Electronics and Communications (DITE&C), which is fostering technological innovation and supporting start-ups to address critical environmental challenges.
Notably, many institutions and organisation are working towards finding solutions to mitigate the adverse impacts of marine pollution.
The State department is supporting many startups in Goa to work on projects that address marine pollution. Stingray Robotix, which is incubated at Goa’s Birla Institute of Technology and Science, has developed bio-mimicking robots that mimic marine animals. They are being used for studying marine life, conducting geological research, and exploring shipwrecks without harming ecosystems.
Their natural movement allows thorough, non-intrusive exploration and data collection in underwater environments.
Sylman Caiado, founder of Wateria Technovation, emphasizes the ocean's vital role in sustaining life on earth, highlighting its incredible biodiversity. He urged efforts to preserve the ocean by preventing pollution, especially the discharge of untreated sewage and waste into the sea.
"By leveraging technology, we can monitor water quality in real-time and utilise this data to implement appropriate water purification and treatment systems. This technological approach helps us tackle water challenges and build a more resilient and sustainable water future,” said Caiado.
By leveraging technology, we can monitor water quality in real-time and utilise this data to implement appropriate water purification and treatment systems.
Sylman Caiado, founder of Wateria Technovation
Sylman Caiado, founder of Wateria Technovation, emphasizes the ocean's vital role in sustaining life on earth, highlighting its incredible biodiversity. He urged efforts to preserve the ocean by preventing pollution, especially the discharge of untreated sewage and waste into the sea.
"By leveraging technology, we can monitor water quality in real-time and utilise this data to implement appropriate water purification and treatment systems. This technological approach helps us tackle water challenges and build a more resilient and sustainable water future,” said Caiado.
On World Ocean Day, Kiruba Daniel, founder of JK Nanosolutions, highlighted the increasing influx of new pollutants into the environment and stressed the importance of reducing, recycling, and reusing to mitigate these impacts. He pointed out that nano plastics pose a serious threat to marine life and ecosystems. "If we take care of the ocean, it will, in turn, take care of our ecosystem," noted Daniel.