The management of pollution is a major task as the marine environment is constantly seen as a convenient zone for dumping of wastes. In order to ensure prevalence of seawater quality to perpetuate the reproduction of marine organisms leading to continuous availability of fishery resources to the dependant population, the most accepted method in control of marine pollution is limiting the quantity and characteristics of the wastes up to the extent to which coastal waters can assimilate. This is being achieved only by determining Waste Assimilation Capacity of coastal areas, as at several locations, the seawater quality have shown signs of degradation and likely to worsen further in future. The waste assimilation capacity needs safe water quality criteria as its target water quality to be achieved after estimating quantity of waste to be dumped and hence, the Marine Ecotoxicology project which prescribes safe seawater quality criteria which is extremely essential and need to be continued.

a) Objectives:

To develop specific habitat quality criteria for ecological sensitive areas like coral reefs and coastal waters of Ennore.

b) Implementation Plan:

1. Acute toxicity tests to derive LC50/EC50 values and chronic tests (for sub-lethal stress) under continuous flow through method, biomarker enzyme assay and histopathology studies would be carried out:
2. Seawater Quality Criteria in the form of numerical values for the proposed target chemicals supported with the activities of stress stabilizing enzymes and the extent of tissue injury and cellular changes.
3. The proposed activities will be implemented by NCCR  with the support of R&D laboratories.

c) Deliverables

Seawater Quality criteria for selected metals and organic compounds as aids in Pollution control activities