FORV Sagar Sampada has been carrying out multi-disciplinary scientific activities in the field of ocean science since 1984. During the year, the vessel was made available to various national organizations/universities engaged in the Marine Living Resources programme of the Department. The vessel fitted with state-of-the-art scientific equipment, conducted 11 cruises in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone covering a total track distance of 48,217 Nautical miles. One hundred and forty (140) participants representing 11 organisations including Sagar Sampada Cell, participated in the cruises and generated valuable data on the seasonal differences in the marine environment and living resources, covering a total of 308 stations within the EEZ.

The major scientific activities carried out by Sagar Sampada during the year are:

Collection of environment and productivity data from Indian EEZ for the summer, winter and inter monsoon period of 2000-01.

Survey of demersal fishery resources along the Indian continental slope area in the depth range 200 to 1000 m.

Estimates of the Benthic standing crop along the shelf waters of both the east and west coasts.

Locating the Deep Scattering Layers (DSL) and studies on DSL biocomposition.

Investigations on toxic algal blooms in the Indian Exclusive Economic Zone and

Harvest technology studies to establish gear selectivity.

During the year the wadi-buoy onboard the vessel was indigenously repaired and put into use for collection of surface meteorological and oceanographic parameters. Also, the facilities onboard were augmented by the introduction of a new 6-channel Skalar autoanalyser and a new Multiple Plankton Net [MPN]. 38 scientists/professors visited the vessel at port as part of their study programme.