The Department of Ocean Development was established in 1981 with a mandate to formulate and implement programmes in ocean science and technology with long term scientific, technological, economic and geo-political benefits, like the Antarctic programme and the Polymetallic Nodule Programme; to formulate and co-ordinate scientific and technological projects for exploration and exploitation of marine living and non-living resources; and protection, preservation and conservation of its environment.

Sustainable exploration and judicious utilisation of the vast living and non-living resources of the ocean for the socio-economic benefit of the country coupled with a judicious management and conservation of the fragile marine environment are the twin primary pursuits of all the nations. Within the framework of the Ocean Policy Statement of India and in line with the development the world over, the Department of Ocean Development is directing its efforts towards the development and use of the ocean science and technology for national development.

The 8th Five Year Plan (1992-97) envisaged implementation of programmes in line with the Ocean Policy Statement and strengthening the institutional infrastructure of the Department. As our technology advanced, the relentless quest towards the resources of the ocean assumed greater importance. The programmes pursued by the Department over the years, therefore, have kept pace with developments world over and addressed national needs and issues. During the 9th Five Year Plan period (1997-2002), the programmes of the Department were reoriented and re-structured to cover a wide spectrum of activities in the ocean sector for development and dissemination of sustainable technologies for the benefit of the society, which are listed below:

Polar (Antarctic) Science

Marine Living Resources

Marine and Coastal Area Management

Ocean Observation & Information Services

Marine Research and Capacity Building

Coastal Community Programmes

Ocean Awareness, and

International Cooperation

With the ratification of the UN Convention on Law of the Sea, a new international order has been established for the Oceans. India is represented in almost all-important International and Inter-Governmental bodies on oceans. The activities in the Ocean Sector thus, are national, regional and global. They have scientific, economic and geopolitical impacts. India has to build an integrated approach for scientific planning, formulation, implementation and overall management of the programmes with a comprehensive organisational and institutional back up. Therefore, the activities of the Department address:

Scientific Research and Technology Development with orientation towards applications;

Obligations and Privileges arising out of international conventions, treaties, bilateral and multilateral cooperative ventures;

Capacity Building and Human Resource Development for self-reliance.

The major achievements of the various programmes and projects, implemented by the Department during the year 2000-01 are presented in this report.