In order to have a good knowledge on the resources, ecology and environmental aspects of coastal and marine eco-system of the Andaman & Nicobar Island Groups, the Department has been supporting a multi-disciplinary project, executed by various institutions. For co-ordinating these efforts and providing the working and instrumental facilities for Island based oceanographic studies to the scientists, a Centre called `Andaman & Nicobar Centre for Ocean Development (ANCOD)' has been set up at Port Blair. The ANCOD would be adequately strengthened for continuing the ongoing programmes and also to co-ordinate the implementation of new programmes proposed to be taken up for augmenting the marine living resources through mariculture, marine ornamental fish culture, etc.

Under the project on "Demonstration of prawn culture in Island ecosystem", Prawn culture was taken up in a 10 hectare water spread area near Port Blair. This project has standardised the technology for development of brackishwater aquaculture in acid sulphate soil in A&N Islands and demonstrated the economic viability of prawn farming. Fishermen of A & N Islands were trained on prawn culture technology. Techniques for cage culture of fishes were established. Programmes for development of techniques for deployment of artificial structures as substratum for aggregation of coral reef, were also initiated.