Marine Resources in India

Marine fish production in India has risen from less than 50,000 tons in the sixties to 2.5 million tons in this decade, taking India to the seventh rank in the capture marine fish production in the world. Further increase in fish production is possible only with exploration of living resources from off shore areas that constitute more than three-fourths of the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and also by exploring the non-conventional resources. By measuring biological productivity at different levels and by assessing the energy flow between them, NIO scientists endeavor to calculate the possible total fish yield from the EEZ of India.

Satellite oceanography
Satellites can observe vast areas of the oceans synoptically and repeatedly, retrieve information from them and send themback, all in real time. Since the launch of the NOAA satellite NIMBUS with equipment for sea surface temperature and ocean color measurements in the seventies, progress in this discipline of oceanography has been very rapid. Now satellites can provide real time data as wind, sea surface heights and water vapour content with atmosphere, besides tracking a number of bouys that drift with ocean currents, both surface and subsurface. The indigenously built IRS-P4 (OCEANSAT) is the first Indian satellite dedicated fully for ocean research, now used extensively by NIO.

Marine Archaeology in India
India initiated underwater archaeological research in 1981 by establishing Marine Archaeology Centre in NIO at Goa. Though developed late, Marine Archaeology, a nascent branch of archaeology is a fast developing discipline in India. At present the Marine Archaeology Centre at NIO has a well established team of Archaeologists trained in diving, and capable of carrying out literature search, identifying and understanding the importance of antiquities, and also able to properly document underwater a finding before retrieval. Ancient ports and towns like Dwarka, Poompuhar, Vijaydrug were explored by the research team and substantial evidence on marine trading during that era was brought to light.

Goa seaweed biofertilizer
A technology was developed at NIO, Goa to prepare a biofertilizer from marine benthic algae (seaweeds) for increasing general growth of the plant, fruit yield and resistance to pests. The seaweed extract is in its natural form and is readily assimilated by plants which help to increase cell division, cell enlargements and production in agriculture, horticulture and fruit-bearing plants. The growth promoting hormones (gibberallins, auxins and cytokinin), micro-nutrients and trace metals present in the seaweed extract showed cumulative effects on plants sprayed with the extract. The extracts prepared from seaweeds were mixed with fresh water in different proportions and used as bio-fertilizers.

Application of biofertilizer at the young stage results in faster growth and plants become strong, sturdy and healthy. It can be used with all types of plants for maximum yield and high quality fruits. Biofertilizer is derived from the biological source, it is eco-friendly and does not produce any toxic effect of any kind. Benefits are evident at lower concentration; however, higher concentrations do not produce any ill effect. This technology uses raw material( seaweeds) readily available along the Indian coasts. This technology, developed by NIO was transferred to M/s Pralsher Bio-porduct Pvt. Ltd., Kakoda Industrial Estate, Curchorem, Goa, who are marketing thie biofertilizer under the trade name "Plantozyme".