Dear friends,’

We have been reading your mails related to the Andaman
& Nicobar & Lakshadweep islands and we are happy to
note that more & more people are much concerned about
protecting the marine ecosystem. Since they are
islands, beyond our reach, situated far away from the
mainland, your papers are concerned only about A & N
islands. But you have forgotten the fact that coral
patches are also available in our peninsular tip
starting from Cape to Goa in the west coast and GoM in
the east coast. Because of unscientific fishing &
exploitation of coral reefs for commercial purposes,
these reefs have disappeared in some places & found as
rudiments.

This we came to know when we did an underwater study
using SCUBA in the above said areas. These reefs were
the habitats for the demersal fishes mainly the
perches for many years. Now because of the damages
caused to the natural habitats, we have lost most of
our resources. Some are at the verge of their
extinction. So it is high time that we should
safeguard and protect this enviroment also from
deterioration.

The artificial reefs, a concept developed during the
80’s & launched in some parts of the country is still
in the preliminary state. So this hast to be
encouraged by way of putting more and more R & D in
this area. Simultaneously we should also try to do
something to protect the natural reefs. This will help
to retain & maintain the biodiversity in this area.
This is the voice of concern from IERSE, in which
Prof. S. Lazarus & Dr. Anita are spending most of
their time now. We request our other interested groups
also to take up this issue as an important task.

Regards,
S.Lazarus.
Chairman &
anita, scientist
Institute for Environmenatal Research & Social
Education (IERSE)
18/150, Nesamony Nagar, Nagercoil-629001. Kanyakumari
District.
Tamil Nadu, INDIA.

Ph. 91 4652 233701; 094431 36617

lazarus_lasu@...
researchani@...



--- Pankaj <pankaj@...> wrote:
> Lakshadweep Corals under threat due to pollution
> Source: Giji Marykulam. 'Lakshadweep coral reefs
> under threat', Indian
> Express, 06/01/04.
>
> The Coral Reef system in the Lakshadweep Islands is
> facing a threat from
> oil-spillage and fuel discharge caused by an
> increase in the passage of
> vehicles and the number of generators being used by
> the islanders for power
> generation.
> A recent study titled 'Coral reef ecosystem of
> Lakshadweep - a
> bio-geochemical facsimile, under taken by the Cochin
> University of Science
> and Technology (CUSAT) has found that 25% of the
> outer cells in the reefs
> were dead due to the prolonged trapping of sediment
> on the coral. The study
> also found a high concentration of metals like
> Cadmium, Lead, Mercury,
> Aluminium, Zinc and Vanadium in the reefs here.
> Lead and Cadmium were found in all the study areas,
> with their
> concentrations being above 1 mg per litre. That of
> Cadmium was found to
> 26.70 mg per litre. The study also reported that the
> anti-fouling bottom
> paints used by boats contributed to the formation of
> toxic concentrations of
> tributyl tin and other harmful chemical compounds.
> The study was conducted in the islands of
> Kavaratti, Kadamath, Kiltan,
> Androth, Agathy and Minicoy.
>
> Source: Giji Marykulam. 'Lakshadweep coral reefs
> under threat', Indian
> Express, 06/01/04.
>
> C/o Kalpavriksh
> Apt. 5, Sri Dutta Krupa
> 908 Deccan Gymkhana,
> Pune 411004
> Tel: 020 - 25654239 / 25675450
> Fax: 25654239
>
>
>


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