Department of Marine Sciences

Department of Marine Sciences was established in the year 1978 in Berhampur University. Berhampur University is the only university in the state which offers M.Sc, M.Phil. and Ph. D/D.Sc. courses in Oceanography and Marine Biology. The prime objective to establish such a department was to prepare quality manpower in the field of Marine Sciences, both through teaching and research, to meet the demand of the state as well the country. Orissa has a long coastline of 480 Km. and is bestowed with unique ecosystems, estuaries, coastal and marine living and non-living resources and beautiful sandy beaches. Developmental activities such as construction of ports and harbors, aquaculture and other industries, tourism etc. are mostly concentrated along the coastal belt. But coastal hazards such as cyclones and floods, which very often ravage the Orissa coast, retard the developmental activities to a large extent. Keeping in view the strategic importance of the coastal areas of Orissa for defence, tourisim etc., the Govt. of Orissa in co-ordination with the Central Government has initiated the integrated Coastal Zone Management( ICZM) programme for all round development of the state.Therefore to promote such activities and to make sustainable management of the natural and physical resources of the coastal environment, and to provide the right momentum to the developmental activities, there is an imminent need to involve skilled manpower in the field of Marine Sciences. The Department of Marine Sciences has been striving to achieve this goal since its inception. Besides the development of the state, the students of Marine Sciences are actively involved in the national and international development and a few of them have proved themselves as leaders in the field of Marine Sciences and allied subjects.

Mission

To provide quality education in the field of Oceanography, Marine Biology and allied fields and produce skilled manpower
To provide academic support to post graduate / M.Phil / Research programmes of the university in the discipline of Marine Sciences.
To provide extension services to the user agencies in advisory capacity or by undertaking operational projects as service provider.
To undertake cutting edge R&D projects and organize workshop/ seminars / trainings to promote the courses of Marine Sciences.