Artificial Intelligence in the Blue Economy: The Growth Engine in the Present Century explores the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in promoting sustainable ocean-based economic development, marine resource management and coastal ecosystem conservation. The book presents an interdisciplinary approach that integrates artificial intelligence, machine learning, ocean sciences and environmental sustainability to support informed decision-making and responsible utilisation of marine resources.

The book covers the foundations of the Blue Economy, AI applications in marine biodiversity conservation and blue carbon management, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, marine biotechnology, renewable ocean energy, desalination, smart shipping and coastal tourism. It also examines AI-based approaches for monitoring marine pollution, forecasting water quality, predicting coastal hazards and strengthening climate resilience. Special emphasis is placed on governance, economic valuation, blue finance and inclusive entrepreneurship, with practical relevance to India and the Sundarbans. By connecting technological innovation with ecological protection and community livelihoods, this book serves as a valuable resource for students, researchers, academicians, environmental scientists, fisheries professionals, policymakers and industry practitioners interested in advancing a sustainable, technology-driven Blue Economy.

Dr. Abhijit Mitra is presently serving as the Director (Research) at Techno India University, West Bengal, and is widely recognized for his interdisciplinary contributions to Environmental Science, Climate Change, Carbon Dynamics, and Artificial Intelligence-based Environmental Applications. He obtained his Ph.D. as a NET-qualified scholar in 1994 after securing the Gold Medal in M.Sc. from the University of Calcutta. With more than three decades of professional and research experience, Dr. Mitra has successfully integrated classical environmental science with emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), image-based environmental analytics, and climate management systems. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Mitra has been associated with reputed institutions including the Calcutta Port Trust and WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature), where he conducted extensive research on biodiversity conservation, coastal ecology, climate resilience, carbon sequestration, sustainable aquaculture, and environmental management. His recent academic contributions strongly focus on AI-assisted environmental monitoring, climate analytics, carbon prediction models, ecological image analysis, and smart climate management systems. He has authored more than 770 scientific publications and 66 postgraduate-level academic books, including the pioneering work AI-Based Environmental Science and Climate Management, which bridges environmental science with Python programming, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and AI-driven ecological applications.

Dr. Mitra has successfully completed 21 funded research and consultancy projects dealing with climate change impacts, mangrove ecology, biodiversity loss, estuarine pollution, blue carbon ecosystems, carbon credit systems, and climate-resilient livelihood development. He has additionally developed scientific frameworks integrating Artificial Intelligence with environmental data analysis, RGB image processing, CNN-based carbon estimation, and climate prediction approaches for ecological monitoring and sustainability assessment. His interdisciplinary research reflects a unique combination of field-based environmental observations and advanced computational methodologies. A renowned climate educator and environmental trainer, Dr. Mitra actively conducts capacity-building programmes for industries, power sectors, municipalities, and academic institutions on climate risk assessment, ESG compliance, carbon management, climate adaptation, sustainability transitions, and AI-assisted environmental governance. His training modules increasingly emphasize the role of Python programming, data science, environmental analytics, and AI-based climate resilience tools in modern environmental management systems. At the international level, Dr. Mitra has served as an invited faculty member and speaker in universities and institutions across Singapore, Kenya, Oman, and the About the Authors iii USA. In 2008, he was invited as a Visiting Fellow at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, USA, where he delivered a series of lectures on Climate Change and Coastal Ecosystem Dynamics. He is also an active member of several prestigious scientific organizations including PACON International, IUCN, and SIOS. Dr. Mitra has successfully supervised 61 Ph.D. scholars and continues to inspire young researchers in the fields of Environmental Science, Climate Management, Artificial Intelligence Applications, Coastal Ecology, Blue Economy, Carbon Finance, Sustainable Aquaculture, and Climate-Resilient Development. His present research interests strongly emphasize the integration of AI, Machine Learning, environmental data science, and ecological sustainability for intelligent climate management in the Anthropocene era.

She earned her PhD from Purdue University, USA after receiving the Gold Medal for her M.Sc. at Pondicherry Central University, India.

Dr. Ankita Mitra has authored more than 26 scientific publications and two books on environmental science. She has contributed to global research initiatives, including the Global Forest Biodiversity Initiative (GFBI). Her achievements have been recognised through the Purdue College of Agriculture Excellence in Teaching Award and the Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship. Her research has also been featured by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Purdue University. Alongside her research, Dr. Ankita Mitra is committed to teaching, mentorship and scientific collaboration. She has served as a lead instructor and teaching assistant for undergraduate and graduate courses in forestry, quantitative methods, artificial intelligence and natural resource management in Purdue University’s Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. Through research, education and international partnerships, she aims to advance sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation and climate solutions.

Dr. Joystu Dutta is an academician and researcher currently serving as Associate Professor and Head, Department of Environmental Science, UTD, SGGU, Chhattisgarh (India) with a strong blend of intellectual rigor, positive attitude, and professional enthusiasm to deliver excellence in teaching, research, and institutional leadership. A University topper throughout his academic journey, Dr. Dutta holds PhD from techno India University West Bengal under the able supervision of Prof. Abhijit Mitra, a doyen of marine science and oceanography. He topped Masters in Environmental Management from Forest Research Institute University, Dehradun and is also awarded gold medal for B.Sc. (Hons.) in Biotechnology from MAKAUT, West Bengal. He is also a UGC NET and DST INSPIRE Fellow.An effective Environmental Management professional with a focused interest in climate change policy design, environmental governance, and sustainability planning, Dr. Joystu actively contributes to the development and implementation of strategies that help reduce the ecological footprint of organizations and institutions. Possesses over two years of hands-on experience in development-related communication, both in field-based and desk-based settings with Reliance Foundation, CSR wing of RIL, Navi Mumbai. Demonstrates equal proficiency in internal communications (including employee engagement initiatives), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), branding, and marketing communications with Reliance Industries Limited, one of the topmost corporate houses of India. Recognized for strong advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and networking skills, with proven contributions across team operations, outreach programs, capacity-building initiatives, and event management, effectively bridging academic expertise with practical environmental action. A rare blend of industry and academia, Dr. Dutta serves as a full-fledged academician since 2014 with more than 12 years of experience in teaching, research and extension activities with University Teaching Department of Sant Gahira Guru University, Sarguja, Ambikapur, one of the tribal dominated environmentally rich areas of Northern Chhattisgarh. He has been functioning in various administrative capacities since and has to his credit more than 55 research publications, more than seven books with international and national publications, 1 PhD submitted under his supervision and mentored more than 50 PG level dissertation and consultancy projects. Dr. Joystu Dutta is also the invited member to IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (CEM) and represents the South Asian Chapter of the international forum. He is also serving as reviewer and editor of various Scopus and WoS indexed journals. A multifaceted personality, Dr. Dutta likes to trek, travel and swim during his leisure hours.

Dr. Ashish Kumar Meher is an accomplished academician, researcher, and educator in the field of Botany from Chhattisgarh, India. He holds a Ph.D. in Botany from Dr. C. V. Raman University, Bilaspur, where his doctoral research focused on the diversity and antimicrobial activities of endophytic fungi associated with Terminalia tomentosa in the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve. Adhering strictly to UGC Regulations 2016, his academic journey includes an M.Phil. (2016) and an M.Sc. (2011) in Botany, alongside a B.Ed. degree (2013) to strengthen his pedagogical skills. With over a decade of teaching experience across various government and private institutions in Chhattisgarh—including his current tenure at Government College, Ramanuj Nagar— Dr. Meher has extensively taught undergraduate and postgraduate subjects such as Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, and Plant Pathology. An active researcher, he has published multiple peer-reviewed papers in reputed national and international journals and regularly presents his findings at conferences. Beyond his scientific expertise, he is a trained classical musician holding a Sangeet Prabhakar qualification in Tabla (2007) from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, reflecting a unique blend of scientific inquiry and cultural pursuits.

Chapter 1. Blue Economy and Artificial Intelligence: Foundations and Opportunities

Chapter 2. AI in Marine Biodiversity Conservation and Blue Carbon Management

Chapter 3. AI in Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture

Chapter 4. AI Applications in Sustainable Marine Resource Utilization & Ocean Industries

Chapter 5. AI for Coastal Pollution Control and Climate Resilience

Chapter 6. Governance, Investment and the Future of an AI-Enabled Blue Economy