Download ss-Cr-226

CONTENTS
1. List of participants
2. Objectives
3. Highlights of cruise and Station Inventory
4. Introduction
5. Study Area
6. Results
6.1. Environment & Productivity and Plankton Diversity
studies
6.1.1. Physical Oceanography
6.1.2 Chemical Oceanography
6.1.3 Biological Oceanography
6.1.3.a. Environment & Productivity
6.1.3.b. Plankton Diversity
6.2 Studies on accumulation of marine debris
6.3. Survey of Marine Mammals
7. Suggestions and Recommendation
8. Acknowledgement
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
Page 1 of 20
1.
List of Participants
National Institute of Oceanography
1. Dr. Maheswari Nair
Chief Scientist
2. Dr. Arun. A.U
Research Associate
3. Mrs. Asha Devi. C.R
Senior Research Fellow
4. Ms. Jayalakshmi. K.J
Junior Research Fellow
5. Mr. Laluraj.C.M
Junior Research Fellow
6. Mr. Shaiju. P
Junior Research Fellow
7. Mr. Prabhakaran. M.
Junior Research Fellow
8. Mr. Anand. P
Junior Research Fellow
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute
9. Mr. Leopold P.R,
Fishing Master
10. Mr. Yousuf. K.S.S.M
Research Fellow
National Institute of Ocean Technology
11. Mr. Inbakandan
Scientist
Department of Ocean Development
12. Mr. Sunil Kumar. K.R
Fishing Hand
13. Mr. Tapan Kumar. Malo
Fishing Hand
14. Mr. Rathina Vel. M
Fishing Hand
15. Mr. Pradeep Kumar. V.K
Fishing Hand
16. Mr. Sajan. V.V
Casual Hand
17. Mr. Jilimon. O.T
Casual Hand
M/s Norinco Private Limited
18. Mr. Biju. V. Nair
Service Eng.
19. Mr. Bennay. J. Panakkal
Service Eng.
20. Mr. Ratheesh. R
Service Eng.
21. Mr. George. P.J
Service Eng.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
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Objectives
 Collection of data on Environment & Productivity and
Plankton Diversity
Physical
1. Collection of CTD data up to 1000m.
2. Collection of Surface Met data.
3. ADCP
Chemical
1. pH
2. Dissolved Oxygen
3. Nutrients
Biological
1. Primary Productivity Studies.
2. Secondary Productivity Studies.
3. Species Diversity of Phytoplankton and Zooplankton
 Studies on Accumulation of Marine debris
1. Drifting satellite buoy.
2. Drifting wooden buoys and plastic bottles.
 Studies on Marine Mammals
1. Visual observation
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
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3.
Highlights of the cruise
Cruise details
Chennai - Port Blair - Kochi
(6th June – 10th July, 2004)
Total number of days of operation
36
Total number of Stations
24
Routine MR-LR Stations
12
Plankton diversity stations
8
Buoy deployment station – NIOT
4
Primary Productivity (in deck incubation)
1
Marine mammal studies
All days through visual
sighting
Plankton bio mass sampling stations (MPN)
19
Bongo net operation
21
CTD operation
35 (Routine + pp stations)
Meteorological parameters acquisition
All stations
(wind speed, direction)
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
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Cruise No.226 of FORV Sagar Sampada – 6th June to 10th July. 2004:Station Inventory
St.No
1523
1524
1525
1526
1527
1528
1529
1530
1531
1532
1533
1534
1535
1536
1537
1538
1539
1540
1541
1542
Date
11/6/04
11/6/04
12/6/04
12/6/04
12/6/04
13/6/04
13/6/04
14/6/04
14/6/04
15/6/04
15/6/04
16/6/04
17/6/04
17/6/04
18/6/04
19/6/04
19/6/04
20/6/04
21/6/04
26/6/04
N1
N2
N3
N4
25/6/04
26/6/04
26/6/04
26/6/04
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
Time
(Hrs)
14:53
22:40
07:15
13:41
19:51
05:37
10:44
02.57
15:23
04:00
10:37
12:35
02:40
15:55
01:07
12:50
18:00
11:30
05:30
04:30
Latitude
(°N)
11°30.19'
11°59.91'
12°30.23'
12°30.03'
12°30.03'
13°00.26'
13°00.37'
13°45.35'
13°44.79'
13°45.25'
13°45.20'
12°00.21 '
12°01.64'
11°29.72'
11°30.11'
10°00.22'
10°00.09'
10°00.05'
10°00.55'
07°59.96'
TOTAL
06:00 10°00.61’
06:40 08°00.57’
15:35 07°30.61’
21:45 07°00.09’
Longitude
(°E)
90°00.35'
93°19.98'
93°19.81'
93°35.09'
94°00.48'
93°19.81'
93°35.05'
95°00.50'
93° 59.33'
93°00.72'
92°40.48'
94°59.72'
93°59.85'
94°00.16'
93°30.06'
95°00.66'
94°00.36'
93°00.47'
92°00.22'
94°30.54'
93°02.27’
94°35.04’
94°30.55’
94°30.26’
Depth Bongo CTD MPN Deck
POC
Phyto
570
1
2
1
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
1458
1
2
1
0
0
0
700
2000
1
2
1
0
0
0
2200
1
2
1
0
0
0
850
1
2
1
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
2025
600
1
7
1
1
1
1
1380
1
1
1
0
0
0
40
2
1
0
0
0
0
195
1
1
1
0
0
0
1550
1
1
1
0
0
0
1300
1
2
1
0
0
0
1900
1
1
1
0
0
0
420
1
2
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
0
0
0
2300
3200
1
1
1
0
0
0
1420
1
1
1
0
0
0
1300
1
1
1
0
0
0
2300
1
1
1
0
0
0
21
35
19
1
1
1
Satellite drifter buoy
Wooden drifter and Tagged plastic bottles
Wooden drifter and Tagged plastic bottles
Wooden drifter and Tagged plastic bottles
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4.
Introduction
The cruise 226 of FORV Sagar Sampada aims to study Environment and
Productivity, Plankton diversity in the Andaman Sea during the Summer Monsoon (June,
2004). In addition, data was also collected for Accumulation of marine debris and Marine
Mammals as a part of studies conducted by National Institute of Ocean Technology and
Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute respectively. This cruise started on 6 th June
from Chennai with an aim of covering 24 stations under MR-LR, 16 plankton diversity
stations and 16 NIOT stations. Due to extreme adverse weather condition we could
sample only 12 stations of MR-LR, 8 stations of plankton diversity and 4 stations of NIOT
on the eastern side of the Andaman Island.
CTD was operated at all the stations and water samples from standard
depths were collected for Physical, Chemical and Biological parameters. Primary
productivity studies were accomplished through deck incubation. Multiple Plankton
Net (MPN) and Bongo nets were operated at all stations for the collection of
zooplankton. Drifting pattern of the floating objects in surface waters was studied during
the cruise. Sighting of marine mammals was done through out the cruise.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
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5.
Study Area
Cruise Track of FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise No. 226
15
14
1533
1532
1530
1528 1529
13
12
Port Blair
Latitude (°N)
1531
1523
1525 1526
1527
1524
1535
1537
1534
1536
11
1541
10
1540
1539
1538
9
1542
8
7
6
91
92
93
94
95
Longitude (°E)
MR-LR Stations
BIO DIVERSITY Stations
NIOT Stations
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
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96
6.
RESULTS
6.1
Environment & Productivity and Plankton Diversity studies
6.1.1 Physical Oceanography
Anand.P, National Institute of Oceanography, Kochi
During the cruise 226, sampling was carried out at twenty stations in six
transects. All the stations were on the eastern side of the Andaman. CTD was
operated at all stations and processed all the data with a bin average of 1m
depths. The wind speed, direction and humidity were measured using
Anemometer and Psychrometer respectively. Surface meteorological parameters
including SST were measured manually and compared it with the data from
automated Integrated Data Acquisition Software (IDAS). The salinity values from
the CTD were corrected against the values obtained from the ship borne Autosal.
Preliminary analysis of data shows that the winds were predominantly south
westerly, with an average speed of 9 m/s. The atmospheric pressure drops from
1009.65 mb, to 1001.94 mb. Different layers and types of clouds and its coverage
were estimated visually. The velocity and the direction of the currents up to a
depth of 400 m are recorded by ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler) and the
data are retrieved.
On the western side of the island, the pressure was very low which reached
to about 998mb. At that time, the wind was very strong with a speed of 17-19 m/s.
This was a clear indication of depression formed in Bay of Bengal. The swell had a
height of almost 5m. Sea state was 5-6. The atmosphere was cloudy and the air
was highly humid. Visibility was also poor and there was heavy rain. Due to this
rough condition we could not sail more in the west and all the stations were done
purely in the east.
Preliminary analysis of the CTD data showed that the MLD deepens as we go to
East. At the regions near to island the MLD were shallower than that of open ocean. At
the coastal stations, it ranged from 45-60m where in open ocean stations, it was about 75
to 95m. MLD was high in northern side compared to southern transect. The thermocline
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
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depth was about 210m in the regions near to island. It decreased towards east and
reached a minimum of 155m at 94°N, from there it increased towards east. The SST of
the coastal ocean ranged from 27.5°C to 28.5°C. The northern transect SST was higher
than that of southern transects. The open ocean SST values showed a decreasing trend
towards east. There was a signature of inversion up to 65m depth in the northern
transects. This may be due to river input or precipitation.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226.
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SST Distribution along eastern side of Andaman
SSS Distribution along eastern side of Andaman
13
12
11
10
93
13
Latitude (°N)
Latitude (°N)
Latitude (°N)
13
Wind pattern along eastern side of Andaman
12
11
93.5
94
94.5
Longitude (°E)
95
11
10
93
93.5
94
94.5
Longitude (°E)
Mixed layer depths along eastern side of Andaman
93.5
94
94.5
Longitude (°E)
Thermocline depths along eastern side of Andaman
13
Latitude (°N)
Latitude (°N)
10
93
95
13
12
11
10
93
12
12
11
93.5
94
94.5
Longitude (°E)
Page 10 of 20Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
95
10
93
93.5
94
94.5
Longitude (°E)
Page 10 of 20
95
95
6.1.2 Chemical Oceanography
Laluraj.C.M and Shaiju.P, National Institute of Oceanography, Kochi
The cruise 226 contains twelve pre-planned MRLR stations and eight plankton
biodiversity stations along the east of Andaman Sea. Water samples were collected from
standard depths for MR-LR stations (0,10,20,30,50,75,100,150,200,300,500,750 and
1000 m) and for Plankton Biodiversity samples collected from depths of 0,50,100,150,200
m respectively. Sampling was done using CTD rosette sampler fitted with 1.8 liters Niskin
bottles. Water samples for dissolved oxygen were collected first and were fixed with
Winkler A and Winkler B reagents immediately after the collection and were kept for more
than 12 hours before titrimetric analysis (Winkler’s method). Measurements of pH for the
collected samples were done instantly using the shipboard pH M84 research pH meter.
Dissolved micronutrients (Nitrite, Nitrate, Phosphate and Silicate) were analysed by using
the segmented flow Autoanalyser (SKALAR) on board.
Salient Features
Usually Dissolved Oxygen showed higher concentrations at surface, followed by a
sudden decrease to a minimum. At higher depths, the values showed a slight increase.
From the observations, it was found that the values of dissolved oxygen fall rapidly from
100 m downwards. An oxygen poor layer was observed in between 150-300m depths.
From 300 m onwards the values increased slightly and doubled (than that of minimum
reached) around 750 m at MRLR stations. At most of the MR-LR stations, the values of
dissolved oxygen varied from 4.9 to 5.5 ml/L in surface waters, and were well above 4.6
ml/L in the upper 0-75 m-water column. While in the case of plankton biodiversity stations
higher values of dissolved oxygen were observed in the upper 0-50 m water column and
then decreased to the bottom. The high values of dissolved oxygen in the surface layers
were associated with high mixing, monsoonal wind and primary productivity during this
season.
The pH values showed similar trends in all transects (ie alkaline). It was found that
the values decrease with increase in depth and ranged from 8.3 to 7.6 in both MR-LR and
Plankton Biodiversity stations. The higher values of pH were observed in surface water
column (0-50 m) due to high primary productivity.
The concentrations of different dissolved nutrients increased from top to bottom at
all MR-LR stations. Distribution of dissolved nitrate ranged from 0.12 to 4.2 µmol/l in the
upper water column (0-50 m), beyond which it steadily increased with depth ( 37.01
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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µmol/l at 1000 m) and dissolved nitrite values were found to be in the range from 0.06 to
0.48 µmol/l in the euphotic zone (50 m) and higher values (0.62 to 1.13 µ mol/l) were
observed at higher depths ( 200 m). Silicate Concentrations was found to vary from 0.38
to 5.87 mol/L in the upper zone (0-50 m) and beyond which it rapidly increased with
depth (9.66 to 85.12 µmol/l). Concentration of inorganic phosphate ranged between 0.08
to 0.46 µmol/l in the upper (0-50 m) water column and then gradually increased with
depth and showed a maximum at 1000 m (< 2.82 µmol/l). The slight higher values of all
micronutrients in the upper water column (0-100 m) indicated low primary productivity,
which was further supported by the low biomass, less sunlight and bad weather condition
during the season. The plankton biodiversity stations also showed the similar trend as
MR-LR stations, while the concentrations of all micronutrients were higher than that of
MR-LR stations. It may be due to the anthropogenic input.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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6.1.3 Biological Oceanography
6.1.3.a. Environment & Productivity
Dr.Arun.A.U, Mrs.Asha Devi.C.R, Mr. Prabhakaran M.P.& Miss. Jayalakshmi. K.J.
National Institute of Oceanography, Kochi
Biological oceanographic studies under cruise No.226 is mainly focused on the
Primary and Secondary Productivity studies in the EEZ of Andaman Islands during
summer monsoon period. This cruise covered 12 stations in 4 transects (8°, 10°, 12° and
13°50 N) under MR-LR, on the eastern side of the Andaman Island.
Estimation of primary productivity using C 14
Though we covered 12 stations under MR-LR only in one station (13°45.35’N and
95°0.50’E) we could estimate primary production using C14 technique (deck incubation).
Seawater samples were collected before sunrise from seven depths (0, 10, 20, 50, 75,
100 and 120m) using 1.8 litre Niskin bottles and transferred to 300ml BOD bottles. After
inoculating the samples with 1ml of NaHC14O3 (activity 5 µC), light and dark bottles were
kept for deck incubation for 12 hrs. The samples were filtered through 47mm Whatman
GF/F filter paper (0.7µm) and the filter papers were exposed to HCl fumes to remove
inorganic carbon and kept in 5ml scintillation vials for later isotopic analysis in the NIO
lab.
Estimation of phytoplankton pigments and POC
For the estimation of phytoplankton pigments at station 1530(13° 45.35’N and 95°
0.50’E) one litre seawater was collected from seven depths (0, 10, 20, 50, 75, 100 and
120m) and filtered through 47mm Whatman GF/F filter paper (0.7µm) along with a few
drops of Magnesium carbonate. For the estimation of POC one litre water was collected
from the above depths and filtered through 47mm Whatman GF/F filter paper (0.7µm).
These filter papers then covered with blotting paper and aluminium foil and kept in the
refrigerator for further analysis in NIO lab.
Qualitative and quantitative studies of Phytoplankton
For the qualitative and quantitative studies of phytoplankton, water samples were
collected from surface, 10, 20, 50, 75, 100 and 120m using 1.8 litres Niskin bottles at
station 1530 (13° 45.35’N and 95° 0.50’E). 250 ml water sample collected for analysis is
preserved with Lugol’s Iodine with a few drops of formaldehyde. These samples were
kept in the refrigerator for further analysis.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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Sampling for Microzooplankton.
Eight litres of seawater was collected from seven depths, 0,10,20,50,75,100 and
120 meters from the station where we could do primary productivity. The collected
samples were preserved in Lugol’s Iodine solution with a few drops of formaldehyde .
Secondary productivity
Multiple Plankton Net (mesh size 200 micron and mouth area 0.25 m 2) was used
for the vertical sampling of water columns and Bongo net was used for the horizontal
sampling for zooplankton especially for fish eggs and larvae. For MPN sampling five
different standard water columns were selected (0 – TT, TT – BT, BT – 300, 300 – 500
and 500 – 1000). The hauling speed of MPN was limited to one meter per second. Bongo
nets were operated at 2 knot speed for 10 minutes duration. Samples were collected and
preserved in 4 % formalin.
Important observation in the zooplankton sample
It was observed that as the depth increases the biomass decreases gradually, it
varied from an average value of 266.7409 ml/1000 m
3
(0 –TT) to 18.4889 ml/1000 m
3
(500 – 1000 m). In 0 to 1000 m water column total biomass ranged from 178.12 ml/1000
m
3
to 736.74 ml/1000 m 3 at stations 1534 and 1540 (Lat. 12°0.25’N and Long. 95° 0.88’
E and Lat. 10° 0.05’N and Long. 93° 0.47’E) respectively. In mixed layer (0 – TT) biomass
of zooplankton varied from 60 at station 1533 (Lat. 13° 45.23’N and Long. 92° 40.30’E) to
588.23 ml/1000 m3 at station 1539 (Lat.10° 1.34’N and Long. 94° 2.31’E). In thermocline
layer (TT - BT) biomass ranged between 5.59 ml/1000 m
3
and 257.14 ml/1000 m3 at
stations 1539 and1533 (Lat.10° 1.34’N and Long. 94° 2.31’E and Lat. 13° 45.23’N and
Long. 92°40.30’E) in respective order. In deeper layer (500 – 1000 m) biomass range
was slight, 4 ml/1000 m3 at station 1534 (Lat.12° 0.25’N and Long. 95° 0.38’E) &1531
(Lat. 13° 44.74’N and Long. 93° 59.44’E) to 56 ml/1000 m 3 at station 1542 (Lat. 08°
00.06’N.and Long. 94° 31.27’E). An average biomass distribution of 78.2644 ml/1000 m 3
has been observed in this study and the station wise variation in biomass has given in the
table B1.
Biomass of Bongo samples varied from 136.1036 ml/1000 m 3 at station 1533(Lat.
13° 45.23’N and Long. 92° 40.30’E) to 3078.058 ml/1000 m 3 at station 1539 (Lat. 10°
1.34’N and Long. 94° 2.31’E). In Bongo A an average biomass of 855.7579 ml/1000 m3
and in Bongo B an average of 1101.774 ml/1000 m
3
were observed (Table B2).
One of the notable observation was the low quantitative occurrence of
chaetognaths, siphonophores, euphausids, jelly fishes and salps during summer
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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monsoon season. Bongo samples from station 1542 (Lat. 08° 0. 06’N and Long 94°
31.27’E) was significantly contributed with megalopa, juvenile squids, chaetognaths,
siphonophores, amphipods and juveniles of scombridae family and MPN samples with six
large decapods, fish larvae, euphausids, siphonophores, salps, chaetognaths and jelly
fishes. Presence of Velella was an important observation made in MPN and Bongo
samples collected during this cruise. Presence of myctophid fishes are common in most
of the Bongo and MPN samples.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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Table.B1. Variation of Biomass (ml/1000 m3) in different water columns and stations
0 - TT
(0 - 44)
227.27
(0 - 96)
104
(0 - 72)
166.65
(0 - 70)
60
TT - BT
(44 – 205)
20.62
(96 –218)
49.18
(72 – 173)
19.80
(70 – 170)
257.14)
BT - 300
(205 – 300)
2.01
(218 –300)
40.18
(173-300)
47.24
300 – 500
500 – 1000
Total
20
4
273.9
20
-
213.99
20
4
257.69
-
-
-
317.14
1534
(0 – 92)
139
(92 – 184)
5.59
(184 – 300)
3.93
20
9.6
178.12
6
1535
(0 – 67)
417.9
(67 – 163)
10.256
(163 – 300)
43.79
60
16
547.95
7
1538
( 0 – 72)
333.3
(72 – 195)
44.25)
(193 – 300)
5.35
30
8
420.9
8
1539
(0-68)
588.23
(68 - 176)
31.44
(176 – 300)
5.85
30
16.8
672.32
9
1540
(0 – 43)
558.13
(43 - 199)
10.62
(199 – 300)
7.99
120
40
736.74
10
1541
(0-64)
187.5
(64 – 199)
13.66
(199 – 300)
3.99
40
12
257.15
11
1542
(0-92)
152.173
(92 – 224)
12.43
(224 – 300)
8.196
100
56
328.79
12
Avg.
266.7409
43.1769
16.9156
46
18.4889
382.24
Sl.N o
St.No
1
1524
2
1530
3
1531
4
1533
5
Table. B2. Variation of Biomass (ml/1000 m3) in Bongo samples from different stations.
Sl.No
Station No.
Bongo A
Bongo B
1
1524
926.9882
1235.98
2
1530
432.1852
1899.44
3
1531
833.7128
972.5677
4
1532
990.4757
576.5017
5
1533
302.1295
136.1036
6
1534
696.4546
1391.619
7
1535
749.4685
1357.912
8
1538
1484.024
1123.919
9
1539
2557.334
3078.059
10
1540
436.5215
342.866
11
1541
249.8946
299.7441
12
1542
609.9062
806.5767
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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6.1.3.b. Plankton Diversity
Dr.Arun.A.U, Mrs.Asha Devi.C.R, Mr. Prabhakaran M.P.& Miss. Jayalakshmi. K.J.
National Institute of Oceanography, Kochi
Biological Oceanographic studies in the coastal waters of Andaman are of
considerable interest to marine scientists, this is because these are the area least
explored regions of the Indian EEZ. This coastal ecosystem supports diversity of flora
and fauna because of its association with islands. Under this category 8 stations were
sampled between 11° to 13°N and 93° to 94°E during summer monsoon period, on the
eastern side of Andaman Islands.
Materials and Methods.
The stations fixed for these studies are coastal in nature. Multiple plankton net
(mesh size 200 micron and mouth area 0.25 m 2) was used for the vertical sampling of
water column. For MPN sampling three different water columns were selected, i.e. Mixed
layer (0 – TT), Thermocline layer (TT – BT) and Deeper layer (BT – 300). Bongo nets
were used for the horizontal sampling for zooplankton especially for fish eggs and larvae.
Bongo nets were dragged through the sub-surface waters with a speed of 2 knots.
Collected zooplankton samples were fixed in 4 % formalin buffered with seawater. For the
qualitative and quantitative studies of phytoplankton, water samples were collected from
0, 50, 100, 150 and 200m using 1.8 litres Niskin bottles. One litre water sample was
collected for phytoplankton studies preserved with Lugol’s Iodine with a few drops of
formaldehyde and kept in the refrigerator for further analysis in the NIO lab.
For the estimation of phytoplankton pigments one liter sea water was collected
from 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200m using 1.8 liters Niskin bottles and filtered through 47mm
Whatman GF/F filter paper (normal pore size 0.7µm) along with few drops of Magnesium
carbonate. For the estimation of POC one liter water was collected from above depths
and filtered through 47mm Whatman GF/F filter paper (normal pore size 0.7µm). These
filter papers then covered with blotting paper and aluminum foil and kept in the
refrigerator for further analysis in NIO lab.
Bongo samples contain mainly copepods, ostracods, chaetoganths, eel larvae,
cephalopods and myctophid fishes, MPN samples dominated with Ostracods, euphasids
and chaetognaths. No displacement volume has calculated for zooplankton samples to
avoid the chance of deformation during the process of DV finding.
Physical and chemical oceanographic parameters were analysed separately in
each station along with biological parameters
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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6.2
Studies on the Accumulation of Marine Debris
Inbakandan.D, National Institute of Ocean Technology.
During the curies No.226, which tracked from Chennai via Port Blair to Cochin in
Andaman Sea, five stations were selected for the studies of Accumulation of Marine
Debris or in other words studying the drifting pattern of the floating objects in surface
waters. On 25th June 2004 at Lat 10° 00. 061’N and Long. 93° 02.127’E the Satellite
drifter was deployed at 06 00 hrs. Wooden drifters and plastic bottles (with proper tag)
were deployed at three different stations.
On 26th June 2004 at Lat. 08° 00.044’N and Long. 94° 34. 019’E the first wooden
drifter was deployed and sunk due to heavy wave action and roughness of the weather.
To over come that problem some of the plastic bottles were tide up with the wooden
drifter to increase its floating efficiency and deployed in the same area and it drifted
successfully. The aim of this experiment is to plot the drifting pattern of the object in the
surface waters. As the radar could not detect the reflection of the metal part of the
wooden drifter on its dorsal side which height is less than the height of the open sea
wave. So only visual observations were made. The tagged plastic bottles of 75 numbers
were thrown in the same area. Wooden drifter and bottles drifted towards west-southwest
direction. At 06 40 hrs the drifter was 0.5 miles away from the vessel and the vessel
positioned at Lat. 08° 00.057’ N and Long. 94° 35.00’4E
The second drifter and another 75 numbers of tagged plastic bottles were
deployed at Lat. 07° 30.061’N and Long. 94° 30.055’E on 15:35 hrs. The drifter and
bottles drifted towards west-southwest direction. At 15:50 hrs the drifter was 0.5 miles
away from the vessel and the vessel positioned at Lat. 07 30.244’N and Long. 94
30.093’E.
The third drifter and another 100 numbers of tagged plastic bottles were deployed
at Lat. 07° 00.009’N and Long. 94° 30.026’E on 21 35 hrs. The drifter and bottles drifted
towards west-southwest direction. At 21 45 hrs the drifter was 0.5 miles away from the
vessel and the vessel positioned at Lat. 07° 00.009’N and Long. 94° 30.037’E.
The last station was skipped due to non-availability of drifter and roughness of the
sea. Other than this ADCP data, Metrological data were obtained all along the cruise
track. CTD at Lat. 08° 00.044’N and Long. 94° 34.019’E was operated and data up to
1000m were taken. Water samples collected during the cruise on ORV Sagar Kanya on
the first week of June 2004 at 12 different stations up to 1000 m depth were analyzed by
the Auto analyzer.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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6.3
Survey of Marine Mammals
K.S Sheik Mohamed Yousuf, RC-CMFRI, Visakhapatnam
To find out the mammals distribution, seasonal abundance and species
composition of Indian East coast, survey was carried out in the Bay of Bengal and
Andaman coast. Survey was started at 13°00.00’N. In first leg from Chennai to Port Blair
four sites were observed. Due to the effective influence of monsoon in Western Andaman
coast, couldn’t make survey over there. During the first leg only Dolphin was observed.
Around 20 dolphins were sighted during this leg. Second leg started from Port Blair in
which around 14 sites were observed. During the second leg around 170 dolphins and 15
whales of different species were observed. Cetacean distribution was more at Lat.
6°00.00’N and Long 92°00.00’E. Species identified during the present cruise was Sei
whale (Balaenoptera borealis), Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) Stenella sp. and
Globicephalus sp. Identification of Cetaceans is difficult by visualization, since it has to
be done based on occasional appearance of body parts, spouts from the blowholes in the
case of whales. So, it is desirable to make a detailed description of the features noticed
during the sightings for the future use. Hydrographical data and Metrological data were
collected from the area of sightings. As no mammals were close to ship it was not able to
take photograph for further species confirmation.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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7.
Suggestions, Recommendations

Replacement of nitrite filters in the Auto Analyser
 The humidity sensor in the IDAS is not working and should be replaced
immediately.
 A bucket thermometer and a HAND MET KIT need to be procured immediately.
 Steps may be taken to computerise the log sheets and available in the onboard
computers.
 IDAS system may be upgraded from the Novell to the latest Windows version.
 Deep sea Echo sounder may be installed for safe operation of CTD, MPN etc.
 Computers may be provided in the ETP room for data processing
 Refrigerator in the Chemical lab is not working and needs immediate
replacement.
 Binding of register kept in Chief Scientist’s room.
 Replies on action taken on Chief Scientist’s reports
8.
Acknowledgements
The chief scientist and the scientific team of cruise No. 226 are highly indebted to
the Captain Rajesh B. Dhamagaye and the crew of FORV Sagar Sampada for their
cooperation rendered through out the cruise. Words of indebtedness are also due to the
Fishing Master Mr. Leopold P.R, and his associates, for their round the clock service
rendered during the sampling operation. The technical support given by the Service
Engineers of Norinco Pvt Ltd, Cochin is gratefully acknowledged.
Report FORV Sagar Sampada Cruise 226
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