Biophysical Coral Reef Monitoring of Select Islands in Lakshadweep

Preface
The coral reefs are critical to the food security of coastal people in large parts of the world. It has been estimated that around 50% of the fish catch from several countries in the tropics are directly related to coral reefs. They are probably the most endangered and biologically rich marine ecosystem on earth. Unfortunately, human activities including destructive fishing practices & gears, pollution and sedimentation from land are responsible for causing un-repairable damage to the reef ecosystem. During the last decades, climate change has emerged as a critical factor responsible for increased stress on coral reefs resulting in bleaching of corals in many parts of the world, including the Lakshadweep atolls in India.

Given the inhospitable conditions that has had an adverse impact on the coral reef systems across the world, the biophysical coral reef monitoring project at three of the Lakshadweep islands: Kavaratti, Kadmat and Agatti is of utmost importance. Moreover as this study was conducted after the Dec 26, 2004 Tsunami, it assumes greater significance. Lakshadweep was not much affected, other than Androth and Bitra islands which witnessed strong waves but no human casualty during tsunami,.

The present study aims to record the benthic status of these less studied areas. Bottom coverage in all the 3 islands are dominated by hard corals and the rest by the other reef biota. The overall coral growth was found to be good with the record of two new genera to Lakshadweep islands while some are new to the survey sites.

This report is submitted with the hope that it will encourage and facilitate national and international efforts to better manage the coral reefs. Action is needed at all levels, from assisting local communities with co-management through capacity building to strengthening of institutions to improve management effectiveness through strengthened enforcement measures. These efforts will reduce the impacts on the coral reefs that are both natural and anthropogenic in nature. Conservation and monitoring of coral reefs is highly stressed hereby.

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