The present study relates to the observations on the plankton at nine stations in three sections near Mangalore along the south Kanara Coast during the period February 1976 to January 1977. The monthly and seasonal variations in the wet weight and dry weight of phyto and zooplankton and of the important constituents of zooplankton have teen dealt with.

Both phytoplankton and zooplankton increased in quantity at the end of the southwest monsoon recording maximum values during September. Nearshore stations recorded more phytoplankton and zooplankton when compared with the offshore stations. The general pattern of fluctuations of various groups of zooplankton revealed a first peak in September controlled by copepods, cladocerans, fish eggs and larvae and a second peak in April and May influenced by lucifers, chaetognaths and oikopleurans.