Likely impacts of the work on the scientific potential of our country

Since no baseline data on biophysical coral monitoring has been published so far other than the monitoring work being taken up by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), U.T. of Lakshadweep (Koya, S.I. per. com), it would be better to set up partnership proposals which are recommended to yield fruitful collaborative work in future and avoid duplication of the work.

In this report the overall baseline monitoring data on the coral coverage in Kavaratti, Kadmat and Agatti, has been given, as the coral population of these three islands, remains virtually unknown to the scientific community after the survey by CMFRI in 1987. So this report can be considered as the pioneer baseline data regarding the same. The need for strict, sustained reef monitoring is stressed herewith to keep track of any mortality or recovery and to detect the changes in the functioning of reef and associated biota especially fishes. It is imperative that a sustained monitoring of the reefs of Lakshadweep should be initiated at this juncture.

Since the present monitoring was undertaken after the tsunami (26th December, 2004), the study implies more importance on the status of coral reefs that to be monitored as an immediate step which makes this a pioneer one in those islands even though no visible drastic effect was noted in those islands.

Overall output of this project also includes papers/documentation of associated bethic/reef biota other than the hard corals, database management by setting up of a monitoring database at IGCMC, WWF-India linking with MOEF’s ICRMN and the other associated papers related with the project.

Click to know more:

• Project Abstract
• Oil Spillage
• Pollution
• Coral bleaching
• Highlights of the findings achieved in the project
• Detailed report of work done on the project
• Description of the study areas
• Recommendation including remedial measures
• Impacts of the work on the scientific potential of our country