As a part of its efforts to promote research and disseminate information on oceans, the Department sponsors seminars, symposia, workshop, etc., organised by universities, national research laboratories, scientific institutions, societies, etc., with national and international participation and in order to create a platform to exchange views among scientists, user communities and general public and also to support the scientific and technological activities, about 25 International and National Seminars/ Symposia/ Workshops/ Meetings/ Conferences were sponsored on ocean related topics during 1999-2000.