The socio-economic objectives of this programme is to provide data and decision support for the management of the resources of the coastal zone and islands and their environment. The key element of this programme is the marine information service to provide a rational basis for optimal land use design in coastal areas, identification of more productive uses of certain types of wetlands, risk maps of coastal areas for possible sea level rise and attendant increase in the frequency and ferocity of cyclones, identification of areas threatened with erosion and pollution for remedial measures.

The operational elements of this programme include:

A satellite based real/semi real time marine information service (MARSIS)

Systematic monitoring and modelling of the marine environment along the entire Indian coastline and islands (COMAPS).

Precision sea level measurements at selected stations along our coasts and islands using modern tide gauges (SELMAM).

Close contour level survey of coastal areas for risk assessment due to sea level variations.

Design of integrated breakwater-wave power generating systems.

Technology demonstration to promote development of new additional resources, e.g. prawn culture.

Prediction of storm surges and their impact on coastal geomorphology, assessment of extent of inundation of sea water.

Scientific endeavours are aimed at developing process models for predicting the temporal behaviour of the following oceanic regimes which are intimately involved with development process:

- Oceanic circulation and air-sea energy exchange processes that control weather and habitat of living resources.

- Sea level variations caused by oceanographic and geodynamic processes, in order to isolate the effect of global warming, if any.

- Biomass distribution in near shore and in the deeper areas of the sea.

- Pollution regimes to quantify transport rates of significant chemical elements through the estuaries and coastal areas, especially in Bombay harbour, Thane and Bassein Creeks, Zuari, Hooghly and Periyar estuary coastal ecosystems:

- Oil slicks.

System design for optimal use of coastal resources.

Engineering design of streamlined shore structures and beach nourishment schemes.

Design of higher data products to catalyze socio-economic development.

Design and promotion of safer, long lasting fishing boats.

Design of special instrumentation and systems for increased productivity, reduced wastage and mitigation of hazards. shore to vessel communication systems, fish echo- sounders.

Technologies for developing and extracting new additional resources from the coastal regions: fisheries (prawn), chemicals (phosphorous and iodine) and drugs.

A brief summary of these activities and of achievements under this programme is outlined below.