The FORV Sagar Sampada, a multi-purpose fisheries research vessel has been carrying out survey of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone over since 1984.

During the period under report, FORV Sagar Sampada continued investigations on Living Resources and the oceanographic factors influencing their distribution. The vessel conducted 14 cruises covering a total track length of 22578 nautical miles both in the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. Sixteen organisations including the Department of Ocean Development with 237 participants, conducted the studies.

The major scientific investigations/research carried out by FORV Sagar Sampada during 1997-98 are as under.

Evaluation of performance of specially designed trawl gears, assessment of fishery resources and location of new grounds, post harvest technology and bio-fouling, using Hybrid trawl, HSDT fish version and high opening trawl.

Accumulation of biofoulers on copper, brass, aluminium, stainless steel and galvanised iron panels.

Screening of free amino acids, fatty acids composition, trimethylamine oxide degradation etc, from the muscles of various fish species.

Collection of the sea truth data for validation of modular opto-electronic scanner onboard the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IITS-P5.

Quantification of the flux of greenhouse gases in coastal upwelling regions off South West coast in India by investigating the biogeochemical upwelling within the Arabian Sea suboxic zone , during the south-west monsoon which has a great significance for biological production.

Physical transport and exchange processes across the shelf in the Arabian Sea covering :

Volume exchange between coastal and offshore waters.

Variabilities in the microfilm formation (bacterial) rate in the coastal and deep waters.

Zooplankton distribution in the coastal and deep stations. CTD and ADCP data were recorded. Microfouling studies were conducted and horizontal plankton net cast were taken at all the CTD stations.

Effect of winter cooling on biogeocycling in the Arabian Sea by monitoring the temporal changes in the Arabian Sea, suboxic ocean quantity rates of nitrogen transformations;determining the level and atmospheric emissions of dimethyl sulphide (DMS) from the Arabian Sea; investigate the role of suspended and dissolved biogeochemical cycling and the cycling of redox-sensitive trace metals in the water column and evaluate their atmospheric inputs.

Decadal variations in physical properties of the Arabian Sea, were carried out. FORV Sagar Sampada was deployed for deployment and retrieval of data buoy off cochin under the National Data Buoy Programme of the Department. The shallow water buoy off Cochin was repaired and re-deployed and the deep water buoy off Lakshadweep was inspected.