1. About :

The Coastal Observatory and Outreach Centre (COOC) of Vidyasagar University is an interdisciplinary Centre to pursue research and education on ocean, coast and disaster related studies. The Coastal laboratory and the outreach Centre of COOC is located at Meenalay, Digha, Purba Medinipur, West Bengal, Pin – 721463. The Centre is established in collaboration with Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Govt. of India and Fisheries Department, Govt. of West Bengal.

2. Objectives :

Establishment of the COOC is to understand the dynamics of climate, estuary, coast, ocean, disaster, etc.) & to provide the need-based services, related to livelihood, sea safety and disaster to the vulnerable coastal community of West Bengal.

3. Ocean Service delivered :

Information related to livelihood:
1. Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ)
2. Species specific advisories on Tuna
3. Algal bloom information
4. Artificial Reefs and Sea Weed

Information related to Ocean state and Disaster:
1. Ocean state forecast on wave, wind and currents
2. High wave and high swell
3. Storm surge warning and Cyclone (Joint bulletin of INCOIS & IMD) and Tsunami
4. Search and rescue information during capsize of fishing boat and vessels)
5. Coastal vulnerability and dynamics

4. Knowledge and R&D partner :

Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India.

5. Target users :

Coastal, fishing, seafarer and ocean research community of West Bengal. Policy makers from Fisheries, Disaster Management and other allied departments of Govt. of West Bengal.

6. Outreach Activities :

VU and INCOIS provides information regarding the livelihood status, sea safety information and other disaster-related information such as cyclones and Tsunami, which are very much essential to develop the socio economical condition of the coastal community. Till date more than 2000 beneficiaries are benefitted out of this programme.

7. Skill development of Coastal Community :

The schematic diagram of the lifelong learning for the Coastal Community of West Bengal by Vidyasagar University-COOC has been furnished below –

8. Team:

The activities of COOC is coordinated by Dr. Jatisankar Bandyopadhyay (PI of INCOIS-West Bengal Project), Head and Associate Professor, Department Remote Sensing and GIS.

Following Researchers are the team members of COOC:

Dr. Sourav Maity : Biogiochemical, Fisheries, Satellite and Operational Oceanography.
sourav.maity.ocean@gmail.com

Dr. Swarnali Mazumder : Statistical and Computational Oceanography cum Modelling.
swarnali.majumder48@gmail.com

Dr. Amrit Kamila : Coastal Processes and Instrumentation in Oceanography.
amritkamila90@gmail.com

Shri Soumya Kanti Panda : Plankton dynamics and water quality monitoring.
soumya.redc@gmail.com

8. Committees:

A. Advisory Committee:

1. Honourable Vice Chancellor, V.U.- Chief Patron
2. Director, INCOIS or Nominee
3. Registrar or Nominee, V.U.
4. Finance Officer or Nominee, V.U.
5. Prof. Prasad K. Bhaskaran, IIT, Kharagpur
6. Prof. Satyajit Saha, V.U.
7. Prof. Ashis Kumar Paul, V.U.
8. Shri Bijan Kumar Saha, Ex. DDG (Marine), GSI, Kolkata
9. Development Officer, V.U.
10. Dr. Jatisankar Bandyopadhyay, V.U., Member Secretary

B. Academic Committee:

1. Prof. Susanta Kumar Chakraborty- Professor, Zoology, V.U.
2. Dr. Jatisankar Bandyopadhyay- PI-INCOIS Project, Chairman
3. Prof. Ashis Kumar Paul- Professor, Geography, V.U.
4. Prof. Prasad K. Bhaskaran, IIT, Kharagpur
5. Prof. Tarun Kumar De- Professor, Marine Science, C.U.
6. Shri Bijan Kumar Saha- Ex. DDG (Marine), GSI, Kolkata
7. Dr. Aneesh Lotliker- Scientist-F, INCOIS
8. Dr. Utpal Sar- Joint Director, Fisheries, W.B.
9. Dr. TVS Udaya Bhaskar- Scientist-F, INCOIS
10. Dr. P. A. Francis- Scientist-F, INCOIS