 Online edition of India's National Newspaper Saturday, May 23, 2009 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
Though Kappaphycus alvarezii has economic value, it poses a threat to coral reefs RAMANATHAPURAM: The State government has directed the Forest Department not to allow alien seaweed cultivation in the waters of Tamil Nadu. Kappaphycus alvarezii is among the largest tropical marine red alga, which is shiny green to yellow orange, and is a tough, fleshy, firm aquatic plant that can grow up to 2-m tall. Since it has a huge economic value in the production of gelling agent, ‘kappa carrageenan,’ used in industrial gums and in other products as a smoothening agent in ice cream, toothpaste, jellies, medicines and paint, several fishermen and self-help groups, supported by a private company under the buyback arrangement, have been cultivating the seaweed in the open sea in the Mandapam area. Seaweed extraction for agar production has been going on for quite a while in the Gulf of Mannar region. However, the State government has instructed the Forest Department to discourage the cultivation of kappaphycus alvarezii, a Philippines-based species. V.Naganathan, Eco Development Officer, Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve (GOMBRT), told The Hindu on Friday that the Chief Secretary had instructed all departments concerned to take firm steps to prevent cultivation of alien species in the Gulf of Mannar and other areas. The species, which had invaded some coral reef areas of the Gulf of Mannar, had been removed. He said a few scientific studies, carried out by notable scientists, had come to the conclusion that if the species was allowed to grow, it would invade the coral reef fast. It would endanger the indigenous seaweeds and flora and fauna of the Gulf of Mannar. There was a fear that it might propagate itself through spores, which could lead to bio-invasion.
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