Friday, Jan 07, 2005
Friday, Jan 07, 2005 |
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Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Tamil Nadu
By R. Vimal Kumar
TUTICORIN, JAN. 6. Though the tsunami hit coastal regions with destructive power, it has not caused damage to coral reefs, as many environmentalists feared, in areas between Tuticorin and Rameswaram. This was revealed in a assessment over the last few days by Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI), affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, in collaboration with Tuticorin Port Trust, in the Gulf of Mannar. A five-member team of SCUBA (self contained breathing apparatus) equipped divers, led by J.K. Patterson Edward, director, SDMRI, conducted the assessment at 11 sites chosen randomly. Talking to The Hindu, Dr. Edward said, "Our team found that the tsunami has not had any major impact on reef areas, as there was no significant damage to sea grass beds engulfing the reefs. Water near the coral reef collections was clear without any turbidity." Dr. Edward said due to strong waves some branching corals such as `Acropora Cytherea' were tilted a bit and a few branches of `Acropora Intermedia' were broken.
Minor damage
He, however, added, "it is not alarming considering that such a damage is transitional and has occurred to just one or two per cent of the total live branching coral cover in the area." The members noticed that reef fish such as snapper, jacks, emperor breams, rabbit fish, groupers, parrot fish, spiny lobsters, cuttlefish, eels and soldier fish were found in abundance in areas where the survey was conducted.
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