Tamil Nadu   

Oxygen levels improve in Gulf of Mannar

MADURAI/RAMANATHAPURAM: Oxygen levels in the waters of Gulf of Mannar improved on Monday giving hope that the situation would become normal along the Mandapam-Keezhakarai coast where the mortality of fish occurred in the last few days.

The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) has decided to undertake extensive studies on the large-scale blooming of ‘noctiluca scintillans,’ which caused extensive damage to marine life.

The Institute for Integrated Coastal Area and Marine Management, Chennai, an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, has sought a report from the Madurai Kamaraj University, which has done a study through its Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies at Pudumadam, near Mandapam.

V.K. Melkani, Chief Conservator of Forests and Director, GOMBRT, said on Monday that he had asked scientists of leading institutes, including the Sugandhi Devadasan Marine Research Institute, to undertake preliminary spot studies in the affected areas. Since the field reports suggested heavy damage to the biodiversity it was necessary to study the phenomenon extensively.

Citing the latest information, he said climatic condition in the Gulf of Mannar had improved, thereby increasing the oxygen level and bringing down the temperature. Terming a “crisis” the largescale bloom of noctiluca in this area, Mr. Melkani said it was very rare in a tropical country like India.

A few scientists in the affected area told The Hindu that though the temperature level had gone down marginally, thanks to rain and wind, the blooming phenomenon was spreading towards the western side of Kilakarai in Gulf of Mannar. There were reports that fishermen had seen dead or fainted marine animals along the shore between Erwadi and Valinokkam.

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