Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 3 : Agricultural wastes and eutrophication

3.16.Algal bloom Research in India
Despite the fact that India has a fairly good spread of institutions dealing with marine research, technology and teaching, interest in bloom research could translate into about 300 scientific papers over a period of 48 years. Some of the publications were due to instant response to the bloom episodes, but research interest did not persist further. The obvious reasons for this are:

• Indian waters were never seen as potential sites for recurring blooms of temperate type and hence investigations were restricted to fulfill academic pursuits.
• Trichodesmium and Noctiluca species were most dominant members of the blooms reported. The blooms of these non-toxic species therefore were not a cause for worry.
• The concept of blooms either in terms of their real extent or composition for a discernible consequence remained obscure.
• The blooms that discoloured the waters or the occurrence of even ‘miniblooms’ as a response to nutrient pulses, normally to be ignored, were speculated to be harmful. Some even raised warning flags based on substantial fish mortality or fall in their catch without actually collecting scientific data. Among the 300 or so abstracts available, only 80 (20%) dealt with bloom aspects and only a handful on extensive blooms as perceived now.
• A lack of clear distinction on the kind of blooms was obvious, as descriptors such as ‘toxic’, ‘noxious’ and ‘nuisance’ have been synonymously used, at times misplacing their real potency and vice versa.
• Universities and research institutions have limited sea observation and laboratory facilities, and therefore explorations and studies were sporadic.