This publication recounts the voyages of the iconic Norwegian research ship, Dr Fridtjof Nansen, from the Horn of Africa to southern Mozambique and Madagascar and eastwards to the tropical islands of the Seychelles and Mauritius. It documents the evolution of marine research in the Western Indian Ocean, from exploratory surveys in the 1970s to the present ecosystem surveys in support of better fisheries management. The book provides a rare glimpse into the practical realities of conducting research at sea, while also evaluating the impacts of the Nansen programme. Chapters were written by eminent marine scientists from the Western Indian Ocean region, as well as Norwegian scientists with long experience of Nansen surveys. The book will be of interest to marine scientists, fisheries managers, policymakers and students, but also all those with a passion for the sea.