Amongst the many non-traditional security threats that are manifest in the vast oceanic stretch of the Indo-Pacific region, environmental and ecological challenges are increasingly growing in strength. These bear ramifications not only for the natural world, but also substantially impact socio-economic considerations, and even define strategic equations amongst countries. Accordingly, ‘Marine Ecology’ has been identified as one of the seven pillars in the India-led Indo-Pacific Ocean’s Initiative (IPOI), the aim of which is to ensure the security and stability of the region’s maritime spaces.
While several Indo-Pacific countries are collaborating with India in other areas of IPOI, such as security, infrastructure and resources, Australia has taken the lead in this domain.
In this context, a project supported by the Government of Australia on “Australia–India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative: Regional Collaborative Arrangements in Marine Ecology,” was undertaken by Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata, India and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, under the direction of Dr David Brewster (Senior Research Fellow, Australian National University) and Dr Anthony Bergin (Senior Fellow, Australian Strategic Policy Institute) in July 2021. After a year of extensive research, this study culminated in a comprehensive report which was released through a Report Release Programme organised in hybrid mode by ORF Kolkata in collaboration with the Government of Australia on 28 July.
The reports relating to regional arrangements in the Pacific were researched and written by Dr Anthony Bergin, while reports concerning regional arrangements in Southeast Asia were prepared by a research team from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. The team was headed by Dr Julius Cesar Trajano and included Dr Lina Gong and Margareth Sembiring. Reports relating to regional arrangements in the Bay of Bengal region were prepared by a research team from the Observer Research Foundation, Kolkata, India, which was headed by Dr Anasua Basu Ray Chaudhury and included Dr Anamitra Anurag Danda, Sayanangshu Modak and Sohini Bose.
The marine ecology report examines how Australia, India, and other Indo-Pacific partners may cooperate as part of the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. The findings from these studies are the basis of a set of recommendations for the Australian Government to promote greater Indo-Pacific cooperation in the sphere.
The deliberations stressed distinctive maritime challenges, such as marine plastic, illegal unreported, and unregulated fishing, emergency response and marine disaster management. Regarding the problem of marine debris or the unscrupulous dumping of non-biodegradable waste into the seas, it was pointed out that for a practical resolution, an urban perspective of the oceans is necessary.