News in Shorts: 28 February 2025

Oarfish: The ‘Doomsday Fish’

Context: A rare Oarfish (Regalecus glesne) has been sighted near Baja California Sur coast, Mexico.

•  About: 
  • Oarfish is a deep-sea fish with a long, ribbon-like body.
  • It can grow over 30 feet in length, making it one of the longest bony fish in the world.
  • They have a unique “rowing” motion when swimming.
• Habitat: Oarfish usually inhabit the deep-sea mesopelagic zone (up to 1,000 meters), where light does not reach, making their appearances near the surface extremely rare.
• Biological Features and Adaptations: 
  • Silvery, reflective body: Acts as camouflage in deep-sea environments.
  • Large Eyes: Aid in detecting faint light in dark waters.
  • Vertical Floating: They are often seen floating vertically, which helps them blend with the water column.
  • Filter Feeding: Oarfish primarily consume small marine organisms such as krill, small crustaceans and plankton.
• Reason behind calling Oarfish a ‘Doomsday Fish’: Japanese folklore dating back to the 17th century suggests that the appearance of the oarfish near shore foretells impending disasters. 
  • This notion was reinforced in 2011 when 20 oarfish washed up on Japanese shores months before the catastrophic Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.
• Major Threats to Oarfish
  • Plastic Pollution: Marine debris and microplastics contaminate deep-sea habitats.
  • Climate Change: Rising ocean temperatures disrupt ecosystems.
  • Deep-Sea Activities: Exploration and fishing pose unknown risks.

One Nation-One Port Initiative

Context: Recently the Union Minister for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) announced One Nation-One Port Initiative during a stakeholder meeting in Mumbai.

About One Nation-One Port Initiative

• Objective: Aims to standardize and streamline operations across India’s major ports, removing inconsistencies in documentation and processes.
• Significance of the Initiative: 
• • Reduces inefficiencies, operational delays, and cuts logistics costs to boost global competitiveness.
  • Enhances transparency and uniformity in port operations by reducing container operation documents by 33% (from 143 to 96) and bulk cargo documents by 29% (from 150 to 106).
  • Supports the vision of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, ensuring efficiency, sustainability, and economic resilience in port management.
  • Strengthens India’s trade position by integrating with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy.

India Maritime Week 2025

• Theme : Celebrating ‘Maritime Virasat’ (Heritage) and ‘Maritime Vikaas’ (Development) to highlight India’s rich maritime legacy and future growth.
• Objective: Aims to bring global stakeholders together, fostering international trade, investment, and policy discussions.