Marine Biotechnology

Marine biotechnology is the discovery and application of products and processes derived from marine organisms. It finds wide range of applications in various industries to develop new class of pharmaceuticals, industrial products and processes, vaccines, diagnostics and analytical reagents. It provides new tools and approaches to understand the ecological relationships among marine organismse farmer community in particular and the society at large.

• Major Institutions and their marine Biotech Activities
• Indian Marine Biotech
• Gujarat Marine Biotech-The Industry of Tommorow
• Indian Companies of Marine Biotechnology
• Global Companies of Marine Biotechnology

Major Institutions and their marine Biotech Activities

Indian Marine Biotech

Rich corals, diverse fish and a plethora of economically important arthropods and molluscs represent the marine biodiversity of India. Being, the world's largest marine turtle breeding ground, migratory waterfowl and home to Asia's largest brackish water lake Chilika adds on to the marine habitat and biodiversity of India. The Indian coastline also supports the rich coral formations of Andaman Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Kachchh and Gulf of Mannar. India has to its advantage a favorable climate, diverse aqua fauna and its 8000 kilometers long coastline to support its marine life.

First company in the country to be totally devoted to marine biotechnology was Shantha Marine, which is based at Chennai. It's first marine biotech product; beta-carotene was made using marine algae. The Company has been working on microbial metabolites sourced from the oceans. It offers pharmaceutical and nutritional supplement products and manufactures some critical bulk ingredients like beta-carotene Lutein, alpha carotene, zeaxanthin and cryptoxanthin. It also produces beta-carotene fortified products including jams, squashes, ketchups and sauces, cooking oils, chocolates, etc. Shantha Marine has notched up a turnover of INR 6 crore in its first year of operations and is estimated to achieve around INR 15 crore during the current year.

Several R&D activities are underway at CSIR funded laboratories such as National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Goa and Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSMCRI), Bhavnagar, in the areas of marine biotechnology, such as structural and functional genomics, cultivation of seaweeds and bioprospecting for marine organisms (seaweeds and microbes), microbial extremophiles and bioremediation, sustainable saline waste land cultivation technology, etc.

DBT has been focusing on semi-intensive prawn culture, intensive carp culture, feed and seed production, disease diagnostics/vaccine development, bioactive compounds, transgenics, etc. The programmes on semi-intensive prawn culture and intensive carp culture have demonstrated high production levels and could lead to process and product development for commercialization.

Indian companies have been exploring the great potential that marine resource and aqua culture offer besides the lead taken by the Government in this direction. The Central Government and various State Governments are focusing on building infrastructure to support the marine biotechnology industry in the country by way of setting up parks dedicated to marine biotechnology, establishment of centres to monitor and conduct research activities, train manpower by introducing various courses in the field, etc.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh is in the process of establishing a Marine Biotech Park (MBP) in Visakhapatnam, spread across 218 acres of well-developed land. A Marine Biotechnology Park at Mamallapuram is also being set up by Government of Tamil Nadu with an investment of USD 11.11 million to offer unique incubating facilities for commercial exploitation in pharmaceuticals, food supplements and cosmetics. Department of Fisheries\University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad, Karnataka proposes to establish a marine biotech park at Karwar for promoting research in marine biotechnology.

The University of Science and Technology at Cochin, Kerala, is proposing to establish a Centre for Marine Biotechnology that will offer a platform for R&D programmes in the field of marine biotechnology. The broad areas identified for research include genotypic characterisation and sequencing genes of interest, aquaculture and fisheries biotechnology, marine novel enzymes and marine natural products and biomaterials. The Centre will also work on the development of a database on marine biotechnology.

Gujarat Marine Biotech-The Industry of Tommorow

Gujarat has1600 km long coastline considered the longest in the country, which includes two gulf areas Gulf of Kachchh and Gulf of Khambat. Given the longest coastline and the rich marine resources it preserves, the Government of Gujarat is focusing on developing marine biotechnology as a fore area of the biotech sector in the State.

Gujarat is India's first State to establish a Marine National Park located 30 kms from Jamnagar in the Gulf of Kachchh region. The location is famous for its corals and fish and is the only place where Black Cornalia can be seen. Its marine life also includes Turtles, sponge, eels, sea urchin; gobies, dolphins, dugang, boralia etc. as the prominent fauna. Gujarat waters are rich with high-grade shrimp, prawns and lobsters. Boralia species, considered to be quite rare, are also a common feature in this locality.

The State has the presence of one of the prestigious CSIR labs, The Central Salt and Marine Chemical Institute (CSMCRI) at Bhavnagar, that conducts R&D intensive work in marine biotechnology. The Institute aims to harness its capabilities in biosciences, chemical transformation, process engineering, environmental monitoring, separation science and analysis to address focused needs of industries and organizations in the region and beyond. Currently the R & D activities of the Institute are focused on inorganic chemicals, catalysis and new materials, membrane science and separation technology, and biosalinity. This pioneering effort has resulted in seeding of various industries, which utilize the knowledge provided by CSMCRI. The Institute has made significant strides in development of halophytic plants and has nurtured the seaweed chemical industry across the country.

Indian Companies of Marine Biotechnology

Company Name	Address	Phone No.	Fax No.	Email / URL
Cellgen Biologicals Pvt Ltd	1, 4th East Street, Kamraj Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	+91-44-4410662 4402628	+91-44-4410662/4	mdo@ablbiotechnologies.com www.ablbiotechnologies.com
GeoMarine Biotechnologies (P) LTD	No.5/3,Fourth Street, Chowdry Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Chennai – 600087 India	+91-044-56102630	-	enquires@geomarinebiotech.com www.geomarinebiotech.com
Nurture Aqua Technology Pvt. Ltd.	53/41 Ramjas Road, Karol Bagh, New Delhi 110 005	+91-11-25712053 25722984	+91-11-25760697	nurture@nurturetech.net www.nurturetech.net
Samudra Biopharma Pvt.Ltd	1, 4th East Street, Kamraj Nagar, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	+91-44-4410662 4402628	+91-44-4410662/4	mdo@ablbiotechnologies.com www.ablbiotechnologies.com
Sanosil Biotech Pvt. Ltd.	Warden House, Sir P M Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001 (INDIA)	+91 22 2287 2295	+91 22 2287 3475	info@sanosilbiotech.com www.sanosilbiotech.com

Global Companies of Marine Biotechnology

Company Name	Address	Phone No.	Fax No.	Email /URL
AMP-Lab GmbH	University of Mainz Becherweg 9-11 Germany	+49-0-6131 3924147	+49-0-6131 335422	info@amplab.de www.amplab.de
Aquapharm Bio-discovery Ltd.	European Centre for Marine Biotechnology Dunbeg Oban Argyll. PA37 1QA Scotland	+44-0-1631 559 390	+44-0-1631 559 006	enquiries@aquapharm.co.uk www.aquapharm.co.uk
Atrium Biotechnologies Inc.	1405 boul. du Parc-Technologique Quebec City, Quebec G1P 4P5, Canada	418-652-1116	418-652-0151	www.atrium-bio.com
BioDiversity Ltd	Business Innovation Centre Rm 23/24 Innova Park Mollison Avenue Enfield EN3 7XU , UK	+44 20 8350 1278	+44 20 8350 1255	reacsyn@bdlabs.com www.bdlabs.com
Biotec Pharmacon	Strandgata 3, N-9008 Tromsø, Norway	+47 7764 8900	+47 7764 8901	info@biotec.no www.biotec.no
Bryant Nutrients	Bryant Nutrients 4133 Greenwell St. Baton Rouge, LA 70805 United States	225-356-3311	-	www.bryantlabs.com
Coastal & Marine Biotechnologies Ltd	Tamar Science Park, 1 Davy Road Derriford Plymouth PL6 8BX UK	+44-0-1752 764430	+44-0-1752 772227	cmb@cmbiotech.co.uk www.cmbiotech.co.uk
Commercial Microbiology Ltd	Kettock Lodge, Campus 2 Aberdeen Science Park, Bridge of Don, Aberdeen AB22 8GU, Scotland	01224 706062	++44 1224 706012	info@commercialmicrobiology.co
Croda International Plc	Croda International Plc Cowick Hall, Snaith Goole, East Yorkshire DN14 9AA UK	+44-0-1405 860551	+44-0-1405 861767	www.croda.com
Destiny Pharma Ltd.	The Sussex Innovation Centre Science Park Square, Falmer Brighton, BN1 9SB UK	+44-0- 1273 704 440	+44-0-1273 704 499	wl@destiny-pharma.demon.co.uk www.destiny-pharma.demon.co.uk
Galilaeus Oy	Galilaeus Oy Kairiskulmantie 10 P.O. Box 113 FIN-20781 Kaarina Finland	+358 2 274 1450	+358 2 273 1460	galilaeus@galilaeus.fi www.galilaeus.fi
Hispanagar	C/ Pedro de Valdivia, 34 28006 Madrid, Spain	+ 34914117993	+ 34915624645	hispanagar@hispanagar.es www.hispanagar.com
Instituto Biomar	S.A. Edificio CEEI. Políg. Ind. Onzonilla C.P.:24231-Onzonilla (León) Spain	+34 987 84 92 00	+34 987 84 92 03	ibiomar@institutobiomar.com www.institutobiomar.com
Integrin Advanced Biosystems	Marine Resource Centre Barcaldine Oban Argyll PA37 1SE Scotland	+44-1631-720 765	+44-1631-720 590	info@integrin.co.uk www.integrin.co.uk
Marigot Ltd.	Strand Farm, Currabinny, Carrigaline, Co. Cork, Ireland 353 21 4378727	-	353 21 4378588	marigot@indigo.ie www.marigot.ie
Marine BioProducts International	1609 Derwent Way Delta, British Columbia Canada , V3M 6K8	604-523-2408	604-523-2410	sales@marbio.com www.marbio.com
Marine Biotech	54A West Dane Street Beverly, MA 01915 United States	978.927.8720	978.921.0231	info@marinebiotech.com www.marinebiotech.com
Marinova	Level 7, 39 Murray St Hobart, Tasmania Australia 7000	+61 3 6231 9988	+61 3 6231 9987	info@marinova.com.au www.marinova.com.au
Mera Pharmaceuticals, Inc.	73-4460 Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway, Suite 110 Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, United States 96740	+808-326-9301	+808-326-9401	info@MeraPharma.com www.aquasearch.com
Nereus Pharmaceuticals	10480 Wateridge Circle, San Diego, CA 92121 United States	+858-587-4090	+858-587-4088	info@nereuspharm.com www.nereuspharm.com
Norconserv AS	Norconserv AS Postboks 327 4002 Stavanger Norway	+4751844600	+ 4751844651	post@norconserv.no www.norconserv.no
Sederma	29 rue du Chemin Vert BP 33, 78612 Le Perray-en-Yvelines Cedex, France	-	-	www.sederma.fr
Seven Seas Healthcare Ltd.	Seven Seas Limited Hedon Road, Marfleet Hull, HU9 5NJ England	01482375234	01482374345	Info@Seven-Seas.ltd.uk www.seven-seas.ltd.uk
The Ceva	Centre d'Etude et de Valorisation des Algues (Study centre for the valorization of algae) Presqu'île de Pen Lan - BP 3 - L'Armor-Pleubian 22610 Pleubian France	0296229350	0296228438	algue@ceva.fr www.ceva.fr
Remedios Limited	Campus 3, Unit E2, Balgownie Technology Centre, Aberdeen Science and Technology Park, Balgownie Drive, Aberdeen, AB22 8GW UK	+44-0-1224 355690	+44-0-1224 355691	info@remedios.uk.com www.remedios.uk.com
SAMS (The Scottish Association for Marine Science) Research Services Ltd	The Scottish Association for Marine Science Dunstaffnage Marine Laboratory Oban, Argyll, PA37 1QA Scotland	+44-0-1631 559000	+44-0-1631 559001	info@sams.ac.uk www.sams.ac.uk
PharmaMar SA	Avda. De los Reyes, 1 Pol. Ind. La Mina-Norte 28770-Colmenar Viejo Madrid, Spain	+ 34 91 846 6000	+ 34 91 846 6001	pharmamar@pharmamar.com www.pharmamar.com
Primex	Oskarsgata 7, IS-580 Siglufjordur, Iceland	+354 460 6900	+354 460 6909	www.primex.is
The National Collection of Industrial, Marine	and Food Bacteria (NCIMB) Ltd. Ferguson Building Craibstone Estate Bucksburn Aberdeen, AB21 9YA UK	+44-0-1224 711100	+44-0-1224 711299	enquiries@ncimb.com www.ncimb.com
Zymetech Marine Enzyme products	Ensimtaekni ehf, Eyjarslod 1b, 108 Reykjavik, Iceland	551 5400	551 5402	info@zymetech.com www.zymetech.com