Human impacts on Lakshadweep Atolls, India

The Lakshadweep (Laccadive) islands are situated in the Arabian Sea about 225 to 450 km from the southwest coast of India. These islands situated 1 to 2 meters above mean sea level has a very thin lens of fresh water floating over the seawater. Almost all fresh water sources are contaminated due to seawater intrusion. The drinking water wells contain excessive nitrate concentration originating from septic tanks, other human wastes and fertilizers used in garden. All drinking water sources show positive bacterial (faecal coliform) count exceeding the normal level. Increasing population pressure (2600 people / km2) leading to the accumulation of more diseases in corals. The newly emerging disease Red Plague Syndrome is spreading very fast in these islands. The anthropogenic impacts on coral reefs are discussed in the paper in detail

Marine mammals and fisheries interactions in Indian seas

Incidental capture of marine mammals in fishing gear is a major cause of concern. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) identified bycatch as one of the serious threats to the marine mammals. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) estimated that at least 308,000 dolphins and porpoises are killed in bycatch every year in the world oceans. The Indian seas support 26 species of cetaceans and one species of sirenian. Until 2003, knowledge on marine mammals of India was restricted to incidental catch of different species in fishing gear. Between 2003 and 2012, the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) undertook a research project on marine mammals and conducted extensive visual sighting cruises onboard FORV Sagar Sampada in the Indian EEZ and contiguous seas to explore diversity, distribution and ecological characters of this mega fauna. The project also undertook a survey on the marine mammals that are incidentally captured by fishing gea

Marine Mammal Species of India

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has collected and published information on occasional strandings, sightings and gear entanglement of marine mammals for more than 50 years from a vast network of trained field staff located at its research and field centres along the entire Indian coast. More than 85% of the publications on marine mammals in India are by the CMFRI. To create interest and awareness among students, researchers, naturalists and conservationists on marine mammals occurring in the Indian seas, the researchers of CMFRI have prepared species profile, which provides basic and interesting information on these charismatic animals. They have presented results of research projects on marine mammals and compiled available information from a large body of literature so that this publication serves as a source of ready reference to those interested on marine mammals. This publication will pave the way for producing a large number of marine mammalogists in the country to undertake advanced research on marine mammals in India and in the region as well

Marine Mammal Sightings in Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean (SO) comprises more than 10% of the world's oceans and plays a substantial role in the Earth System. In total, it covers an area of 34.8 million km2. The shelves around Antarctica are on average 450 - 500 m deep, but exceed 1000 m in places. Of the total SO area. the continental shelf (~1000m in depth) covers 4. 59 million km2, the continental slope (1000 - 3000 m in depth) covers 2.35 million km2 and the deep sea (23000 m in depth) covers approximately 27.9 million km2 (Clarke and Johnston, 2003). Sea ice covers roughly half of the Southern Ocean during winter and approximately 10% during the summer

Mud bank biology

Mud banks are unique, clearly demarked naturally occurring calm areas which occur mainly in the inshore waters along the Kerala coast during the southwest monsoon period. Formation of mud banks can be either just before the onset of SW monsoon or during the monsoon. Mud banks are popularly known as “Chakara” or “Shanthakara “ (meaning calm area) and fishermen consider mud banks as ‘gift of God’ since these are safe fishing areas for launching and berthing the fishing crafts when the rest of coastal belt is surf ridden, with high swells and unsuitable for small scale fishing operations

Status of sea turtle conservation in India and the way forward

Sea turtles play an important role in maintaining the balance of the food web in the marine ecosystem. It is reported that the unintentional capture of turtles in shrimp trawls is the most important factor leading to the mortality of sea turtles. Globally, several conservation measures are in place for conserving populations of the iconic sea turtles. This includes India where several identified turtle nesting sites are protected through appropriate restrictions on fishing and other anthropogenic activities. The history of conservation of sea turtles in India and recent linking use of Turtle Excluder Device (TED) in shrimp trawls to shrimp imports by the USA, is discussed

भारत की समुद्री स्तनियां (Marine Mammal Species of India)

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute has collected and published information on occasional strandings, sightings and gear entanglement of marine mammals for more than 50 years from a vast network of trained field staff located at its research and field centres along the entire Indian coast. More than 85% of the publications on marine mammals in India are by the CMFRI. To create interest and awareness among students, researchers, naturalists and conservationists on marine mammals occurring in the Indian seas, the researchers of CMFRI have prepared species profile, which provides basic and interesting information on these charismatic animals. They have presented results of research projects on marine mammals and compiled available information from a large body of literature so that this publication serves as a source of ready reference to those interested on marine mammals. This publication will pave the way for producing a large number of marine mammalogists in the country to undertake advanced research on marine mammals in India and in the region as wel

Impact of the December 24, 2004 Tsunami on coral reefs of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are a low mountainous chain of islands, which rise from a submerged north-south trending ridge separating the Andaman Sea from the Bay of Bengal between 6°45ʹ13ʹʹ.41 N and 92°12ʹ93ʹʹ.57 E. This island group includes 306 islands and 226 rocks, with a coastline of about 1962 kilometers. The islands located north of 10° N Latitude are known as Andamans (Figure 1) while those located south of 10° N Latitude are called Nicobars with a total area of 8249 square kilometers. These islands are supposed to have arisen from the ocean bed in the Mesozoic period about 110 million years ago and have since then undergone several periods of partial submergence and elevation. Fringing, Patch and Barrier reefs are present here, covering about 948.8 square kilometers. The total mangrove area is approximately 762 km2. There are 106 Protected Areas, 96 designated as wildlife sanctuaries, 9 National Parks and one Biosphere reserve. Among the 9 National Parks, 2 are Marine National Parks (Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park and Rani Jhansi Marine National Park)

Diversity of Brachyuran crabs in Gulf of Mannar (Southeast coast of India)

Coral reefs protect the coastline against waves and erosion and constitute one of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the World. Coral reefs provide Subsistence, security and cultural utility to the inhabitants of coastal areas in all the tropical nations. Nevertheless, reef degradation is Widespread, due to their manifold uses and importance to the people or developing countries. Therefore the lnternational Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural resources (IUCN) considers maintenance of reef fisheries as a global priority. Collection of data about the coral reef resources is the most basic information in a coral reef ecological study. Management could be done only on the basis of such informatio

Krusadai Island: the Biologist's Paradise

The name Krusadai may symbolically mean Lord Shiva with matted locks - as a manifestation of Lord Dakshinamurti. The exact meaning of the word Krusadai is difficult to fathom . 'Kru' (as a corrupt form of 'Kuru' may also mean short or abridged) is perhaps wrongly spelt for Guru meaning Teacher or Mentor. (in Tamil,in both ways 'Kru' or 'Guru', it could be written). Assuming its Tamil version of the word 'Kru' to mean Guru = i.e ., 'Mentor' or Nestor - and 'Sadai' meaning matted locks, we can visualise the picture of Lord Dakshinamurti. In its serene atmosphere, the place is veritably ' an eternal abode for silent meditation. Lord Dakshinamurti is known to teach and dispel all doubts of 'sishayas' or disciples by transmitting the lessons of discourses and answers and replies to doubts raised ''through thought waves" in eloquent silence and in eternal bliss, when and where speech becomes superfluous