NEW DELHI: Huge quantities of coral were being collected illegally from Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and ferried off for use in the limestone industry. Replying to a question from MP and environmentalist Maneka Gandhi, Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena said as per the information provided by the State of Tamil Nadu, the corals were being removed through illegal quarrying by the local fishermen in the past.
The practice was to collect the coral reefs washed ashore in the coastal areas of Gulf of Mannar. The coral reefs which were damaged during fishing and other activities were collected illegally and used in the limestone industry.
Maneka Gandhi's question focused on a report submitted by UN Atlas of the Oceans that 250 cubic metres of coral was being quarried illegally every day from the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park off Tamil Nadu coast.
Corals are endangered species, five varieties being listed under Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, as among those with the highest degree of protection. The Gulf of Mannar is among four National Coral Reef Areas identified by Ministry of Environment and Forests for intensive conservation and management.
A marine biosphere extending from Rameswaram Island to Tuticorin in a NE-SW direction to a distance of 140 km, the Gulf of Mannar abounds in marine life and the area covers 21 islands and 623 hectares.
The degradation is quite severe due to the human stress. Coral mining for lime, sand mining, pollution, sedimentation, fisheries, mangrove cutting, population pressure, commercial shell collection and industrial development has led to the increase in coral reef degradation.
Down Under
117 hard coral species have been recorded in the Gulf of Mannar.
47 villages, with a total population of around 50,000, has resulted in excessive harvesting of marine species.
250 cubic metres of coral is quarried from the Gulf of Mannar per day.
Sea turtles are frequent visitors to the gulf as are sacred sharks, dugongs, and dolphins.
Fish catches have declined, as have pearl oyster, gorgonian and acorn worms populations.
Nearshore and offshore catches have decreased.
- UN Atlas of the Oceans
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