Research and Societal Programs

Conservation and management of coastal and marine ecosystems

• Coastal and marine biodiversity (Survey, assessment and baseline data collection)
• Survey and monitoring of endangered / threatened species (Coral reefs, reef associated fishes, dugong, sea turtles, sea horses, and mollusks)
• Environmental education and awareness building: Awareness building among coastal folk and school children about the importance of marine environment and resources, in particular the corals reefs and the need for conservation since 1999.
• Coastal ecosystem rehabilitation (Coral rehabilitation, Artificial reefs, Seagrass rehabilitation)
• Coastal ecosystem monitoring (Coral reef and seagrass ecosystems – Distribution, diversity, threats, status and health; reef resilience; Assessment and monitoring of coral disease prevalence; Coral reproduction and larval recruitment; and reef fish spawning aggregations – species, season and habitats)

Environmental protection and monitoring

• Environmental impact assessment (focuses on coastal key habitats and associated biodiversity; and environmental health)
• Socio-economics (Socio-economic survey, assessment and monitoring)
• Environmental monitoring (Physical, chemical, biological parameters; Pollution monitoring; Sedimentation rate in coral reef and seagrass areas)

Climate change and coastal biodiversity

• Climate change and coral reefs (Coral bleaching and mortality; coral bleaching pattern and recovery; monitoring; and mitigation)
• Climate change and fisheries (Impact on reef associated fishes)

Resource utilization and value addition

• Utilization of underutilized marine resources through value addition (Value addition, Popularization, Capacity building of coastal community; Technology transfer through lab to land programme)

Awareness and capacity building

• Awareness building to coastal community on marine resources (local workshops, discussions and pamphlets)
• Education in coastal villages for coastal resource conservation (adult and environmental education)
• Capacity building of researchers and conservation managers (PADI certified SCUBA diving; marine biodiversity identification; and coral and seagrass assessment and monitoring techniques)

Underwater research and monitoring

• SDMRI Reef Research Team (RRT) has experience over a decade in underwater research and monitoring (coral and seagarss ecosystem). Presently, the RRT has eight researchers with PADI certified SCUBA diving capacity including dive instructor and dive master and expertise in research on reefs, seagrass beds and associated biodiversity. The available facilities and equipment include seaworthy 30’ Boat, SCUBA dive equipment, underwater cameras, etc. The Field laboratory at Mandapam helps to conduct research, assessment and monitoring work in northern Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay area.