INCOIS to Track Marine Litter Hotspots with AI

The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, will use ocean modelling, satellite remote sensing, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) tools to identify, monitor and forecast marine litter hotspots. The initiative is linked to the National Initiative for Remediation of Marine Litter, or NIRMaL Sāgar, and the pilot phase began in Visakhapatnam on 19 September 2026.

Marine Litter and Ocean Pollution

Marine litter refers to solid waste, including plastics, that enters seas and coastal waters. Marine plastic litter is a major component of marine debris and is studied for its movement, accumulation zones and sources in coastal and offshore waters.

INCOIS and Ocean Information Systems

INCOIS is a national institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences and is based in Hyderabad, Telangana. The institute works on ocean state forecasting, tsunami warning services, potential fishing zone advisories and ocean data products for India’s coastal and marine sectors.

NIRMaL Sāgar and Pilot Framework

NIRMaL Sāgar is a national initiative for remediation of marine litter. The pilot project in Visakhapatnam aims to create India’s first integrated marine litter tracking framework, with the city serving as a testbed for monitoring, source identification and hotspot mapping.

Important Facts for Exams

• Satellite remote sensing uses sensors on satellites to observe Earth’s surface, oceans and atmosphere from space.
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning are used in environmental monitoring for pattern detection, prediction and classification.
• Visakhapatnam is a major port city on the eastern coast of India and lies along the Bay of Bengal.
• Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar is a coastal cleanliness and marine conservation campaign in India.

Expected Outputs of the Pilot

The pilot studies will identify sources of marine plastic litter, track its movement and locate accumulation regions. The programme also includes strategies for removal and recycling, which are linked to circular economy practices in waste management.

The launch event on 19 September 2026 marked the conclusion of the week-long Swachh Sagar Surakshit Sagar 5.0 campaign. The event was attended by Ministry of Earth Sciences Secretary T. Srinivasa Kumar and Visakhapatnam Member of Parliament M. Sribharat.