GULF OF MANNAR

 GULF OF MANNAR : 

Introduction:  

        The Gulf of Mannar, the first Marine Biosphere Reserve in           the South and South East Asia, running down south from Rameswaram to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, India is situated between Longitudes 78°08 E to 79°30 E and along Latitudes from 8°35 N to 9°25 N. This Marine Biosphere Reserve encompasses a chain of 21 islands and adjoining coral reefs off the coasts of the Ramanathapuram and the Tuticorin districts forming the core zone; the Marine National Park.

 UNIQUE FEATURES :        

        The Gulf’s 4,223 species of plants and animals representing from primitive to higher forms make it one of the richest coastal regions in India. Most of the islands have luxuriant growth of mangroves on their shorelines and swampy regions. The sea bottom of the inshore area around the islands are carpeted with seagrass beds which serve as ideal feeding ground for Dugong dugon, the endangered herbivorous marine mammal.

      A unique endemic species of Balanoglossus - Ptychodera fluva, a living fossil that links invertebrates and vertebrates, has beenrecorded only here at Kurusadai Island. Even though Gulf of Mannar is one of the biologically rich areas, it has been exploited heavily over the past 4-5 decades. The human induced threats to biodiversity are mainly overexploitation of marine resources, habitat destruction, marine pollution and destructive fishing. 

The seagrass species, Halodule uninervisis extensively distributed in Gulf of Mannar and is the dominant and primary species in the intertidal belt. It occurs both on sandy and muddy substratum with a thin layer of sand. It is also observed on coral debris. H. uninversis plays an important role both as stabilizers and sediment accumulator and occurs either as a bed of monospecific community or a mixed vegetation with Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Halophila ovalis and Enhalus acoroides. 

The Gulf of Mannar is theonly ecosystem in India where all 5 sea turtle species have been reported. Four of the seven species of sea turtles found worldwide are reported to occur in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reseve. These are the olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea), green (Chelonia mydas),hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata)and leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea .

        Highly productive fringing and patch coral reefs surround the islands and are often referred to as underwater tropical rainforest and treasure house for marine biodiversity, in particular marine ornamental fishes. Occurrence of these specialized ecosystems makes Gulf of Mannar an unique large marine ecosystem in the Indian subcontinent.

Description :

Surface : 623 ha

Core area(s) : 623 ha

Buffer zone(s) : 54,837 ha

Tansition zone(s): 994,540 ha

Location: 08°47' to 09°15'N; 78°12' to 79°14'E

MAJOR THREATS FOR GULF OF MANNAR BIOSPHERE RESERVE 

      The primary threats to the globally significant biodiversity of the Reserve are, in order of importance: Habitat destruction; over-harvesting of marine resources; and potential localized landbased marine pollution from a low number of civic point-sources. 

              Habitat destruction (coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves) is themost serious threat to the long-term viability of the Park’s globally significant resources. Coral mining, though it is illegal, has stopped from 2005. Seagrass beds are damaged by inappropriate bottom trawling practices.

                  Localized pollution outside of the southern tip of the buffer zone represents a potential threat to the Reserve’s biological diversity. Development under way in the southern part of the Tuticorin districts is of concern to the long-term management of the reserve. However no discernible impact upon the Park’s biodiversity had been detected from any resulting pollution. 

REF: BIOSPHERE RESERVE 

           MOE