• Alternative livelihood to fisher folk (Lab to land programme): Capacity building of fisher folk, in particular fisher women in crab & lobster fattening, seaweed cultivation, development of value added produced from under utilized marine resources and vermi-composting to uplift their socio-economic status.


• Empowerment of fisher women through ICT and adult education programmes in 5 coastal villages (Siluvaipatti, Rajapalayam, Arockiapuram, Thirspuram and Inigo Nagar) in Tuticorin district to enhance literacy and livelihood.


• Environmental education and awareness building: Awareness building among coastal folk and school children about the importance of marine environment and resources, in particular the corals reefs and the need for conservation since 1999.


• SDMRI played a lead role in creating awareness about marine environment, in particular coral reefs among the coastal folk and the conservation in the Tuticorin coast of the Gulf of Mannar.


• Community based conservation programmes: Community based artificial reef and coral reef restoration programmes.

Training Programmes organized

• Training programme on "Popularization of Science and Technology among fisher folk of Vellapatti village of Gulf of Mannar - Development of value added products from under utilized marine resources such as gastropod meat", organized in Vellapatti coastal village, Tuticorin, 27.01.2001 - 02.02.2001.


• Training programme on "Popularization of Science and Technology among coastal folk of Gulf of Mannar - Vermicomposting, Seaweed Culture & utilization", organized in Tuticorin, 01-02 March 2002.


• Training to 5 Self Help Groups (72 fisher women) from Vellapatti fishing village in Tuticorin district on "Crab Fattening", organized in Ottapidaram Panchayat Union, Tuticorin, 18.04.2002.


• Training programme on "Vermicomposting for Self Help Groups in Tuticorin Coast", organized in Taruvaikulam coastal Village of Gulf of Mannar, Tuticorin, 29.07.2004.


• Training to 52 SHG fisher women from Pudukottai district, Tamil Nadu on "Crab Fattening", organized in Tuticorin, 24 - 31 August 2005.


• Training programme on "Crab and Lobster Fattening" to the weaker sections of the coastal community in Tuticorin district through Dept. of Biotechnology, Govt. of India project, since August 2004.


• Training programme on "Seaweed Culture & Utilization" to the fisher women in Gulf of Mannar through Dept. of Science and Technology, Govt. of India project, since August 2004.


• Training to 60 fisher women in Kanyakumari district on "Seaweed Utilization and Culture", organized at Rasthakadu and Leepuram (Kanyakumari district), 28 - 30 June 2005.


• Training to 52 fisher women from Pudukottai district on "Crab Fattening", organized at SDMRI, Tuticorin, 24 - 31 August 2005.


• Training programme on "Crab Fattening" to Self Help Groups, organized by SDMRI and facilitated by Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, at Mandapam during 25-27 March 2009.


• Training programme on "Fish Handling and Preservation" to Self Help Groups, organized by SDMRI and facilitated by Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, at Mandapam during 25-26 March 2009.


• Training programme on "Fish Handling and Preservation" to Self Help Groups, organized by SDMRI and facilitated by Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, at Erwadi during 27-28 March 2009.