Centre for Marine Living Resources and Ecology (CMLRE)

The Centre for Marine Living Resources & Ecology (CMLRE) is a research institute in Kochi, Kerala, functioning under India's Ministry of Earth Sciences. It originated from the Sagar Sampada cell, established under the Department of Ocean Development to manage the FORV Sagar Sampada research vessel. During the 9th Five Year Plan (1998), the Marine Living Resources Programme was formulated, leading to the cell's upgrade into CMLRE. The institute coordinates national R&D projects on marine living resources, ecosystem monitoring, and data management, and oversees Southern Ocean living resource programmes. Initially serving as a coordinating and funding body for other institutions like the National Institute of Oceanography, CMFRI, and CUSAT, it later developed in-house research capabilities during the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012), focusing on pelagic ecosystems, marine benthos, harmful algal blooms, and bioactive compounds from marine organisms. It also contributed to post-tsunami marine impact studies in 2005. CMLRE continues to operate the Sagar Sampada vessel as the backbone of its marine research activities.