Fattening of mud crab: an approach of aquasilviculture in Andaman Islands

During September - December 2004, mud crab fattening was attempted in tide-fed earthen ponds in Lakshmipur (North Andaman) and Bamboo Tickri (Middle Andaman) with mangroves such as Rhizophora mucronata, R. apiculata and Avicennia marina, covering 60 to 80% of the total pond area. Water crabs of Scylla tranquebarica, S. olivacea and S. serrata, each weighing 500 - 1500 g were stocked in the pond at a density of 0.5 kg/m2 with suitable hideouts to reduce cannibalism. In 30 to 35 days, 85% survival was obtained with 8% weight increment. This paper outlines the measures that may be adopted for practicing aquaculture in mangroves

Assessment of post tsunami coral reef resource in Pongi Balu coast, south Andaman Islands

In the present study, an assessment of the status of coral reefs along the Pongi Balu coast, south Andaman Islands, which is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, has been made by scuba diving, low draft glass-bottom boat and visual interpretation in some places during low-tide condition. The coral reef boundaries have been accurately determined with the help of a low draft glass-bottom boat fitted with a real time kinematics global positioning system, and the existing coral reefs map of the area has been updated using the geographic information system technique. A total of 161.6 ha of previously existed live coral reefs were surveyed along the Pongi Balu coast and out of that ‘live coral’ was found over 81.4 ha and ‘dead coral’ was found over 60.6 ha whereas 19.6 ha area was found to have been lost from the existing coral reefs and categorized as ‘no coral’. The study highlights a few natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the existing coral reefs and hindering the re-establishment of coral reefs in the study area

New record of pearl fish Onuxodon margaritiferae (Rendahl, 1921) from Andaman Islands

This study reports the occurrence of the pearl fish Onuxodon margaritiferae (Rendahl, 1921) for the first time from Andaman waters, inhabiting the mantle cavity of the oyster Pteria penguin. This species is known so far from Western Australia and Philippines. The present report extends the distributional range of O. margaritiferae beyond Australian waters to Andaman waters

Assessment of phytoplankton diversity, distribution, and environmental variables along the southeast coast of India

Coastal waters are dynamic because of anthropogenic activities that contribute nutrients and contaminants. These changes have the potential to alter patterns of primary production and thus pelagic food webs. Here, we investigated the spatial variation of the phytoplankton community and its response to changing environmental variables at 84 stations along the five coastal districts of Tamil Nadu (TN). During the present study, 85 phytoplankton species were recorded, such as diatoms (64), dinoflagellates (18), silicoflagellates (1), and Cyanophyceae (2). The maximum phytoplankton abundance was recorded on the Thanjavur coast and gradually decreased towards the south coast of Tamil Nadu. Among the phytoplankton community, 50% was dominated by pennate diatoms, attributed to higher NO3− concentrations in the coastal waters due to agricultural discharge. Cluster analysis revealed that Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli formed a closed cluster, whereas Thanjavur and Pudukottai formed a separate closed cluster associated with higher nutrient and metal concentrations, highlighting the difference in physicochemical parameters between the northern and southern districts of the TN coast. Relatively high nutrient concentrations in the coastal waters of northern districts are of greater concern, which could impact the coastal ecosystem. Coastal eutrophication is becoming a widespread phenomenon, causing disruption in the food chain and ecosystem balances and hence requiring regular monitoring and management

Not Available

Not AvailableThis study reports the occurrence of the pearl fish Onuxodon margaritiferae (Rendahl, 1921) for the first time from Andaman waters, inhabiting the mantle cavity of the oyster Pteria penguin. This species is known so far from Western Australia and Philippines. The present report extends the distributional range of O. margaritiferae beyond Australian waters to Andaman waters.Not Availabl

Keith Brander

Abstract The microbial diversity in the intestine of laboratory reared and wild spiny lobster Panulirus versicolor (Latreille, 1804) from Andaman Island was evaluated. In the wild lobsters, Enterobactericeae was 67%, whereas in the laboratory grown lobsters Vibrionaceae family was dominant (71%). The hyper-enzyme producing proteolytic bacterial species ranged from 21 to 25 × 10 6 CFU ml -1 in the foregut of lab reared lobsters compared to 13-18 ×10 2 CFU ml -1 in wild lobsters. The hyper-enzyme producing cellulolytic bacteria, antimicrobial synthesizing bacteria and fungi were dominant in the wild P. versicolor. The hyper-enzyme producing bacteria and antimicrobial synthesizing bacteria would be valuable for the production of artificial feed for the laboratory reared aquatic animals

Not Available

Not AvailableIn the present study, an assessment of the status of coral reefs along the Pongi Balu coast, south Andaman Islands, which is a part of the Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park, has been made by scuba diving, low draft glass-bottom boat and visual interpretation in some places during low-tide condition. The coral reef boundaries have been accurately determined with the help of a low draft glass-bottom boat fitted with a real time kinematics global positioning system, and the existing coral reefs map of the area has been updated using the geographic information system technique. A total of 161.6 ha of previously existed live coral reefs were surveyed along the Pongi Balu coast and out of that ‘live coral’ was found over 81.4 ha and ‘dead coral’ was found over 60.6 ha whereas 19.6 ha area was found to have been lost from the existing coral reefs and categorized as ‘no coral’. The study highlights a few natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the existing coral reefs and hindering the re-establishment of coral reefs in the study area.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableCoastal brackishwater resources are highly fertile, rich in biodiversity and provide livelihood to traditional fisher families. However, due to natural disturbances and manmade interruptions, its fishery resources are depleted, hence, the livelihoods of dependent fishers are threatened. Aquaculture of fishes in customized cages and pens is a proficient approach for the efficient utilization of this productive natural resource. In this context, a three-tier cage farming system of Asian Seabass fish (Lates calcarifer) comprised of a nursery, pre-grow out and grow-out phases was developed and validated for its techno-economic viability with the participation of fisher folk. The technical indicators viz., fish survival, feed conversion, growth rate, productivity, economic parameters viz., Benefit Cost Ratio, Pay-back period and Internal Rate of Return and the livelihood security pointers have substantially shown that the system is technically feasible, economically viable, socially acceptable and hence, sustainable. Planned interventions in the form of appropriate policy guidelines to undertake community involved cage aquaculture in the coastal brackishwaters, a scheme for periodical flushing of bar mouths to ensure connectivity with the sea, institutional credit and insurance support are outlined to up-scale the adoption of cage farming technology in the brackishwaters across the coastal states of India. It is a win-win approach for the efficient utilization of coastal brackishwaters for augmenting fish production and enhancing the livelihood security of coastal fishers.Not Availabl

DataSheet_1_Assessment of phytoplankton diversity, distribution, and environmental variables along the southeast coast of India.docx

Coastal waters are dynamic because of anthropogenic activities that contribute nutrients and contaminants. These changes have the potential to alter patterns of primary production and thus pelagic food webs. Here, we investigated the spatial variation of the phytoplankton community and its response to changing environmental variables at 84 stations along the five coastal districts of Tamil Nadu (TN). During the present study, 85 phytoplankton species were recorded, such as diatoms (64), dinoflagellates (18), silicoflagellates (1), and Cyanophyceae (2). The maximum phytoplankton abundance was recorded on the Thanjavur coast and gradually decreased towards the south coast of Tamil Nadu. Among the phytoplankton community, 50% was dominated by pennate diatoms, attributed to higher NO3− concentrations in the coastal waters due to agricultural discharge. Cluster analysis revealed that Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli formed a closed cluster, whereas Thanjavur and Pudukottai formed a separate closed cluster associated with higher nutrient and metal concentrations, highlighting the difference in physicochemical parameters between the northern and southern districts of the TN coast. Relatively high nutrient concentrations in the coastal waters of northern districts are of greater concern, which could impact the coastal ecosystem. Coastal eutrophication is becoming a widespread phenomenon, causing disruption in the food chain and ecosystem balances and hence requiring regular monitoring and management.</p