Lok Sabha Question No. 715 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-20
Subject: Research in Indian Ocean
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: DODDAALAHALLI KEMPEGOWDA SURESH

- (a)
- Yes. Madam
- (b) The ministry has been implementing  projects to study various aspects of biophysical  variability  in  the  seas  around  India  for  over  a  decade.    The Biogeochemistry is a multi-disciplinary subject that interacts with physical,  chemical,  biological,  and  geological  processes  and  reactions that govern the composition of and changes to the natural environment. A network of National agencies viz., National Institute of Oceanography (NIO),  Goa,  Physical  Research  Laboratory  (PRL),  Ahmedabad,  Central Marine Living Resources,(CMLRE) Kochi, Central Marine Fishery Research Institute (CMFRI). Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi,  Andhra  University,  Goa  University,  Mangalore  University  have participated in execution of the projects. The key mission of the project is to assess  the impact  of natural and  anthropogenic  forces  on  the biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem dynamics of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal and study the human induced changes in climate and nutrient  loading  impact  on  the  marine  ecosystem  and  biogeochemical cycles.  The various  important  parameters  being monitored periodically

## MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 715

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2017

## RESEARCH IN INDIAN OCEAN

715. SHRI D.K. SURESH:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  taking  any  steps  to  encourage  scientific community to conduct research to further understand the Indian Ocean's biophysical variability in respect of monsoon and human activities;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the significant steps taken by the Government to carry out Oceanographic research in the Indian Ocean during the last five years; and
- (d) the funds allocated and utilized for the research activities/studies in this regard during the above period?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES

(SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

include chlorophyll,   pH, dissolved, oxygen, nutrients such as dissolved nitrogen  (nitrate,  Nitrite),  phosphorus,  organic  and  inorganic  carbon, bacteria, temperature, and salinity etc.,  The dissolved nutrients are the main food source for the algae (phytoplankton) which forms the primary producers in the marine food chain, influenced by the variation in physical oceanographic  processes  (winds,  currents,  waves,  air-sea  interaction, etc.).  Excessive  nutrients  availability  in  the  sea,  supplied  from  rivers, atmospheric deposition, natural processes, etc. shall facilitate the blooming of phytoplankton, normally referred to algal blooms. The biological  productivity  in  the  surface  ocean  is  largely  controlled  by  the vertical  movement  of  deep  nutrient  rich  waters  to  the  surface  ocean, which  is  called  upwelling.  The  intensity  and  period  of  upwelling  largely define the environmental status and suitability in supporting the coastal fishery  resources  along  western  India.  Preliminary  investigations  reveal that the natural oceanographic process such as seasonal upwelling occur along  the  southwest  coast  of  India  appear  to  play  a  major  role  rather human interventions on the marine environment.

## (c) The significant steps taken during the last 5 years are as follows:

-  The augmentation of Ocean  Observation networks in the seas surrounding India includes deployment of 19 moored buoys including 7 tsunami buoys, 270 Argo Floats, 144 drifters, 31 tide gauges 10 High Frequency Radars etc., for acquisition of real-time data from the seas around India.
-  An appropriate system of archival and retrieval for the various types of ocean observations has been established.
-  A dedicated OCEANSAT Satellite Ground Station was commissioned at INCOIS, Hyderabad for real time direct reception of satellite data for rendering various operational Ocean Information Services.
-  A  unique  system  of  Fisheries  Advisories  based  on  identification  of potential  fishing  zones  (PFZ)  using  remote  sensing  technology  has been made operational by expanding it to cover Tuna fish to deep sea fishing industry. The advisories were issued daily for the entire Indian coast to 558 fishing related centers. Ocean state forecast at every six hours for sea surface temperature, currents, waves, etc. is provided daily for next 5-days. Estimated 2.75 lakh users made huge economic benefits.  Implementation  of  Storm  Surge  Prediction  system  for  the Indian coasts.
-  Development of high resolution Ocean regional models with advanced ocean data assimilation system for ocean state forecasts.
-  Development  of  state-of-the-art  ocean  data  services  for  acquisition, archival  and  dissemination  of  the  ocean  data  with  linkages  to  many international Ocean data centers.
-  Established  a  biodiversity  information  network-Ocean  Biogeographic Information System (OBIS) consisting about 1.2 lakhs marine species diversity records from the Indian Ocean region. It has been recognized as  regional  node  of  international  OBIS  under  the  Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission.
-  A Coral Bleaching Alert System (CABS) has been set up for providing biweekly status on 5 major coral environments of India viz., Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch.
-  A state-of-the-art Tsunami Warning System was set up, in September 2007, which has been now recognized as a Regional Tsunami Service Provider (RTSP), provided advisories at 1800 forecast points for all the Indian Ocean Rim countries.
-  Documented centennial changes of harmful algal blooms and decadal changes in benthic biodiversity in the Arabian Sea.
-  Establishment  of  Ornamental  Fish  culture  at  Agatti  for  economic benefit of Lakshadweep  island  families particularly  women  and children.
-  A set of shoreline maps for the entire country has been prepared on 1;25,000  scale  to  identity  large  scale  erosion  and  deposition  occur along the coast.
-  Monitoring  of  coastal  water  quality  (25  parameters)  at  22  locations along Indian coast to assess the health of coastal waters.
-  Survey and mapping of an area of about 1.6 Million Sq Km of Exclusive Economic  Zone  (EEZ)  using  the  Multi-beam  bathymetric  techniques and the geoscientific studies.
-  A full-fledged hatchery unit for the breeding and rearing of ornamental fishes  has  been  established  at  Agatti,  Lakshadweep  islands.  The remotely operable submersible (ROSUB) was tested at ~5300m at the Indian  mining  site  over  the  Indian  Ocean  which  is  a  land  mark achievement for exploitation of ocean resources.
-  Successful demonstration of Open  sea cage culture in Andhra Pradesh, Andamans and Tamil Nadu.
-  On the request from Government of Puducherry to restore the beach, environmentally friendly shoreline stabilization methodology has been evolved and demonstrated resulting in a gain of 60m wide beach.
-  Development  of  an  indigenous,  autonomous  ocean  ambient  noise measuring  system  for  operation  in  shallow  waters  off  the  Indian coasts.
-  The Ocean State Forecast service has been extended for neighbouring countries,  Seychelles and Sri Lanka for providing 3-day forecasts on winds, waves, currents, temperature.
-  Launching of International Indian Ocean Expedition-2 (IIOE-2) towards promotion of ocean science in the Indian Ocean Region.
-  Operationalization  of  International  Training  Centre  for  Operational Oceanography at Hyderabad.
-  The  online  oil  spill  advisory  module  has  been  further  updated  to facilitate the indication of eco-sensitive zones, potential fishing zones, fishing avoidance zone during the event of oil spill.
-  Indigenously developed 500 m  depth rated shallow water/Polar Remotely Operated Vehicle (PROVe). It was successfully deployed in the Andaman coral Islands and the vehicle was successfully maneuvered  in  the  undulating  reef  terrain  to  record  high  quality underwater visuals of coral reef biodiversity with spectral irradiance.
-  Developed  backward  bent  ducted  buoy  to  generate  power  from  sea waves,  drifter  buoy,  deep  ocean  bottom  pressure  recorder,  and autonomous passive acoustic monitoring system.
-  65% of deep water topographic surveys of Exclusive Economic Zone beyond 500 m water depth were completed.
-  Documented centennial changes of harmful algal blooms and decadal changes in benthic biodiversity in the Arabian Sea.
- (d) The  funds  allocated  and  utilizedduring the last  5  years  for  Ocean Research projectsare as follows ( Rs. in crores):

| 2013-14     | 2013-14      | 2014-15     | 2014-15      | 2015-16     | 2015-16      | 2016-17     | 2016-17      | 2017-18     | 2017-18                   |
|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|--------------|-------------|---------------------------|
| Alloc ation | Expen diture | Alloc ation | Expen diture | Alloc ation | Expen diture | Allocat ion | Expen diture | Alloc ation | Expendi ture (as on date) |
| 426.00      | 287.89       | 375.00      | 260.40       | 300.00      | 277.80       | 355.00      | 297.65       | 320.00      | 180.39                    |

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