The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Algal bloom-hit parts of Gulf of Mannar coming back to life

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Monday, Oct 20, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Algal bloom-hit parts of Gulf of Mannar coming back to life

C. Jaisankar

Fish species have also been spotted around the coral reefs

— Photo: By Special Arrangement

REMARKABLE RECOVERY: An underwater picture of fishes spotted around a coral reef in Vazha island of Gulf of Mannar, which was affected by algal bloom a few days ago.

RAMANATHAPURAM: Scientists have recorded the presence of several fish species, including the commercially important varieties, in the algal bloom-affected parts of the Gulf of Mannar, setting at rest fears that the problem might have caused the mass mortality of fish and highly endangered species.

Fish species have also been spotted around the coral reefs in the affected parts .

According to the second underwater study conducted by the Suganthi Devadasan Marine Research Institute on Thursday, the species had become normal shoreward of the Mulli, Vazhai and Thalaiyari islands, the worst affected areas. Some points were found teeming with fish.

Seaward, a few fish, together with juvenile fish, were observed. The common species such as rabbit fish (Siganus sp), parrot fish (Scarus sp), grouper (Epinephalus sp), butterfly fish (Chaetodon sp), tholan (Plectorhinchus sp), parai (Carangoids sp) and snapper (Lutjanus sp) were seen. J.K. Patterson Edward, director of the institute, told The Hindu that the biodiversity was better than what it was when the first study was conducted on October 10 and 12, when not even a fish could be spotted.

The results of the study, which was submitted to V.K. Melkani, Chief Conservator of Forests and Director, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, revealed that all parameters in the affected areas had become normal. So was the microbial count.

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