Recently, Mangalore Research Centre has completed the

field work along Karnataka coast under the consultancy

programme "Survey, inventorying and database creation

of marine and coastal aquatic biodiversity" for the

Karnataka Biodiversity Board

Dineshbabu, A P

Kaladharan, P

Krishnakumar, P K

Vijayakumaran, K

Zacharia, P U

CMFRI Digital Repository

1ISSN No.0972-386CMFRIN E W S L E T T E RNo. 110 April - June 2006Recently, Mangalore Research Centre has completed thefield work along Karnataka coast under the consultancyprogramme "Survey, inventorying and database creationof marine and coastal aquatic biodiversity" for theKarnataka Biodiversity Board, Forest, Ecology &(Contd...)DISCOVERY OF FRINGING REEFS OFF KARNATAKA COASTreefs were found on granitic base.  Sea depth surroundingthis island was 6 to 40 m and water visibility was 15 to 30m. The diving support for the study was given by theprofessional diving group, M/s. Barracuda Diving Services,Miramar, Goa.Coral : Porites sp.Environment Department, Govt. of Karnataka. The surveyhas revealed the existence of a rich fringing coral reefecosystem surrounding Netrani Island (Lat. 140 00' 95 N;Long. 74° 19' 78.1'' E) located off Murdeshwar, nearly 19km away from the mainland (see the map).  The fringingCoral : Coscinaraea monileCoral : Favia favusCoral : Pocillopora verrucosaThe survey team has observed the following benthiccoverage in the Netrani Island: hard coral (14.7%), sponges(2.7%), algae (63.2%), boring polychaetes (13.3%) andmussel (0.3%). Twelve coral and four sponge species werecollected from the area. Several small giant clams (Tridacna(Discovery of ........ Contd. from page 1)3maxima) which are protected under the Indian Wildlife(Protection) Act and included in the IUCN Invertebrate RedData Book as 'Lower Risk: Conservation Dependent'species were observed from this area.  This is the first reportof existence of small giant clams from the west coast ofIndia. Twelve species of corals such as Porites sp., Faviafavus, Pocillopora sp., Pocillopora verrucosa, Goniastreapectinata, G. retiformes, Goniopora sp., Plesiastreaversipora, Coscinaraea monile, Turbinaria sp., LeptastreaGiant Clam Tridacna maximaToad fishNine grouper species were observed, out of which two wereincluded in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species andnot recorded previously from this region.  Even anotherthreatened and valued fish species, Napoleon wrasse(Cheilinus undulatus) was known to inhabit this island (Mr.Venkat Charloo, Barracuda Diving Services, pers. obs.).This is the first record of corals, small giant clams andgrouper species such as Aetheloperca roga, Cephalopholissonnerati and Epinephelus longispinis from the islandssituated off Karnataka coast. At present, Netrani Island isused for target practice by the Indian Navy, and it was prettyobvious by the scars on the sides and the large white targetmarks inscribed on the rockfaces. Several exploded bombshells were found lying in and around the island. Widespread damage to corals due to shelling was observed inthe area. Based on the study, it is recommended to protectand conserve the Netrani Island ecosystem as a marineprotected area (MPA) and as a place for watching fish andother marine life in their natural environment.(Article contributed by Dr. P. U. Zacharia, DFD, Dr. P. K.Krishnakumar, FEMD, Shri. A. P. Dinesh Babu, CFD,Dr. P. Kaladharan, FEMD and Shri. K. Vijayakumaran,FEMD)sp. and Dendrophyllia sp. have been identified from thisisland. The coral ecosystem was very rich in biodiversitywith nudibranchs, schools of blue trigger fish, fusiliers,groupers, parrot fish, gobies, lion fish and scorpion fish.Map showing the location of Netrani islandRESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSPinctada margaritifera in Minicoy WatersThe availability  of black lip oyster, Pinctada  margaritiferain Minicoy waters was noticed from June 2003 onwards.Two spats (one live & one dead) of the same measuring52.25 mm (live) and 49.97 mm (dead) were collected fromthe Eastern side  ship mooring buoy when it was hauled forthe maintenance on 11.06.2003. The live one was rearedalong with the P. fucata in the Eastern side raft, off old

Discovery of fringing reefs off Karnataka Coast

http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/6642/1/Discovery_of_fringing_reefs.pdf

Discovery of fringing reefs off Karnataka Coast

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