Trichodesmium bloom and mortality of Canthigaster margaritatusin the Lakshadweep sea

During the cruise No. 140 of FORV Sagar Sampada (3-4-1996 to 16-4-1996), a thick bloom of Trichodesmiurn erythraeum was observed between lat. 12°30'N and 14°30'N and long: 720E and 74°E during the third week of April 1996. Large scale mortality of single species of fish, Canthigaster margaritatus was also noticed over a submerged reef area at 13°30'N and 72029'E (Stn. No. 3424) during this period.