MANGALORE: The oxygen level in coastal waters of Karnataka has drastically decreased, causing serious imbalance in marine life, according to a study conducted by the Fisheries College team.

Analysing the findings of the team, R.J. Katti, Head of the Department of Fisheries Environment and Ecology at the college, has said that the team found that the dissolved oxygen to be at less than 3 milligrams per litre and in some places the dissolved oxygen particle was nil (zero).

Explaining how the team got the details, Prof. Katti said the students and researchers routinely check the coastal water for its composition. Every year they venture into the sea for not less than 15 times between Mangalore and Surathkal and sometime even beyond Surathkal for monitoring the water condition. The latest finding was recorded in their expeditions between September and November. Such studies were conducted in the past but the dissolved oxygen levels were found to be at a healthy 4 to 5 mg per litre. Quoting the Pollution Control Board standards, Prof. Katti said anything below 3 mg per litre was considered hazardous and acute degeneration levels. Prof. Katti said it was found that the level of "planktons" that are present in the sea had drastically come down. The planktons namely phyto and Animal variants provide food to marine life.

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