The Bhavasagara Referral Centre of Center for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE), Kochi, Kerala has been officially designated as a National Repository for Deep-Sea Fauna by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) during March 2026. About CMLRE The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) is a premier institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, dedicated to the exploration, management, and conservation of marine living resources in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and adjacent deep seas. About Bhavasagara Referral Centre The “Bhavasagara” Referral Centre currently serves as a vital scientific hub, housing an extensive collection of over 3,500 taxonomically identified and geo-referenced voucher specimens. The collection spans a diverse range of marine life, from invertebrates—including cnidarians, annelids, molluscs, arthropods, and echinoderms—to vertebrates such as elasmobranchs and teleostean fishes. Complementing the utility of data archived at the data center, the objective of the Referral Center is to preserve and maintain representative subsamples, of the marine living resources including plankton, fishery and benthic samples collected during FORV cruises for future studies and references by researchers and academicians. The Referral Center thus aims at promoting research and development in marine living resources and ecology for several years ahead, making use of the adequately preserved specimens and samples. This prestigious recognition as a National Repository is conferred under the provisions of the Biological Diversity Act, 2002. It establishes the Centre as a critical national facility for the preservation, study and documentation of India's vast deep-sea biological heritage. Under the Biological Diversity Act, the Repository is authorized to: Maintain Secure Custody: Preserve representative biological samples as voucher specimens along with critical associated data, such as DNA sequences, for future scientific reference. Hold Type Specimens: Act as the official custodian for any new deep-sea species discovered within Indian waters. Capacity Building: Foster expertise in deep-sea taxonomy, aligning with the goals of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021–2030). This designation marks a significant leap forward in India’s deep-sea research capabilities. The recognition of ‘Bhavasagara’ as a National Repository is a definitive step toward strengthening India’s blue economy and marine biodiversity framework. By centralizing the custody of deep-sea specimens and their genetic data, it not only is preserving our natural history but also providing a foundational resource for future generations of ocean scientists to unlock the mysteries of the deep sea. To know more, click here.