India and the US will launch an Ocean Dialogue aimed at promoting sustainable development of blue economy. US Secretary of State John Kerry made the announcement at the conclusion of the India US Strategic and Commercial Dialogue on 22 September 2015.
"The fisheries of the world are either dramatically overfished or in a near extremes, and it is imperative for countries to come together in an effort to try to manage the fish stocks of the world and in order to make sustainable practices the practices that are accepted across the planet," Kerry said.
India’s External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj said the two countries have also decided to launch a new high-level dialogue between India's foreign secretary and the US Deputy Secretary of State on regional and global Issues.
In related news, the India Space Research Organization (ISRO) and NASA are collaborating on an ambitious Earth Science mission called NISAR, planned for launch in 2020/2021, it was announced. According to NASA, the project is optimized for studying hazards and global environmental change.
India and the US over the next year will deepen their dialogue on maritime and oceanic issues ahead of the 2016 Our Ocean Conference.
It will focus on combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing as part of sustainable fisheries, strengthening marine conservation, ending marine pollution, enhancing marine science, and with a joint commitment to a more robust ocean conservation agenda.
"The new Oceans Dialogue will allow both sides to reflect on our shared commitment to peaceful commercial use of the oceans, freedom of navigation, and protection of the ocean ecosystem," the State Department said.