1 Marine Bioreserve in Gulf of Mannar and Sethusamudram Channel Project (A cartographic and pictorial essay) Location map. Inset: bathymetry map of the Gulf of Mannar (reproduced from Murty et al., 1994) Source: http://www.sethusamudram.in/htmdocs/Articles/cp_rajendran_2.htm
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Marine Bioreserve in Gulf of Mannar and
Sethusamudram Channel Project (A cartographic and pictorial essay)
Location map. Inset: bathymetry map of the Gulf of Mannar (reproduced from Murty
et al., 1994) Source: http://www.sethusamudram.in/htmdocs/Articles/cp_rajendran_2.htm
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Various alignments of Sethusamudram channel considered from 1961 (AR Mudaliar
Committee Report of 1956) http://sethusamudram.gov.in/Images/Map1.jpg
Alignment No. 4 does NOT impact on the Marine Bioreserve or the National Marine
Parks as discussed further through the maps and pictures given below. The choice of
Alignment No. 6 (Present channel) is arbitrary and drawn without due diligence, just
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along the medial line between India and Srilanka. (See map of Smt. Indira Gandhi-Smt. Sirimavo Bandaranaike agreement of June 1974).
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Alignment of proposed channel cutting a passage through Rama Setu
The Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve was established by the Government of
India and the State of Tamil Nadu in 1989 and was the first marine protected area to
be declared in South and South East Asia. The Reserve consists of a chain of 21
islets lying off Tamil Nadu on the southeast coast of India between 8º 45' N and 9º 25' N and 78º 05' E and 79º 30' E and covers approximately 10,500 km².
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The Reserve harbours marine biodiversity of global significance and is renowned for
its coral reef, sea grass and algal communities. These habitats provide excellent
foraging habitat for marine turtles and green, olive ridley, hawksbill, loggerhead and
leatherback turtles have all been recorded there. The islets and coastal buffer zone
also include beaches, estuaries, salt marshes, mangroves and tropical dry broadleaf forests.
The Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve was established by the Government of
India and the State of Tamil Nadu in 1989 and was the first marine protected area to
be declared in South and South East Asia. The Reserve consists of a chain of 21
islets lying off Tamil Nadu on the southeast coast of India between 8º 45' N and 9º 25' N and 78º 05' E and 79º 30' E and covers approximately 10,500 km².
The Gulf of Mannar and its 3,600 Species of flora and fauna is one of the biologically
richest coastal regions in all of
mainland of India. Some of the
islands are veritable “Biologist’s paradise”’
It is equally rich
in sea-algae, sea grasses, coral
reef pearl banks, fin & shell fish
resources, mangroves, and
endemic & endangered species. It
is an important habitat for the
highly endangered sea mammal,
the Dugong dugon commonly
called as sea cow.
There are 137 species of Corals found in
Gulf of Mannar. The Coral come in myriads of
shapes. Some have finger like branches and
others dome-shaped colony with a net work of ridges and furrows.
Sponges, although at casual glance look like
plants, are animals, living singly or in colonies of many individuals. Their colours vary
as much as shape, being green, red, yellow, and even black or white. In the
crevices, these sponges are found with many animals, ranging from tiny crabs and
brittle star to bivalve mollusks. 275 species under 8 orders are found in Gulf of
Mannar.
The Gulf of Mannar (GoM) (Fig.1), which is the first Marine Biosphere Reserves established in India, lies between India and Sri Lanka, and covers an area of about 10,500 sq.km. It includes 21 coral islands located between 8º 46’ and 9º 14’ N latitude and 78º 9’ and 79º 14’ E longitude. Each island has its unique characteristics, surrounded by coral reefs with rich faunal and floral diversity. There 104 coral species recorded in GoM (Patterson et.al., 2004). Coral reefs are the most diversified and complex marine ecosystems, and the reefs of GoM are one of the greatest natural treasures. The islands in the Gulf of Mannar are classified into 4 major groups:-
1. Mandapam Group (7 islands) : Musal, Manoli, Manoliputti, and
Poomarichan Pullivasal, Krusadai and Shingle. 2. Keezhakkarai group (7 islands): Yaanaipar, Vallimunai,
Poovarasanputti, Appa, Thalaiyari, Vaalai and Mulli. 3. Vembar Group (3 islands): Upputhanni, Pulivinichalli and Nallathanni.
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4. Tuticorin Group (4 islands): Vaan, Koswari, Kariyachalli and Velanguchalli.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
• Rapid assessment of status of corals in Gulf of Mannar after the
tsunami. • To compare the data with earlier available baseline information to
assess the impacts of tsunami on the degree of cover, and composition of live corals and associated benthic organisms, and selected physico-chemical parameters.
General observations: • No significant damage to status of corals; • The water was clear without turbid nature; • No unusual water currents; • Due to strong waves during tsunami few table corals (Acropora
cytherea) were tilted and few branches of another species (Acropora intermedia) broken;
• Gravel sand seafloor near the reef area was replaced by about 1 cm thick fine sand.
• No sand or other debris deposited on the branching and massive corals; and
• No impact on sea grass beds near the reef areas, but due to strong wave action more sea grass fragments were washed ashore.
REMARKS In general, Tsunami impact has been observed in the coastal region in Gulf
of Mannar. However, no significant impact was noticed on reefs, associated habitat
and resources in Gulf of Mannar except minor transitional damages.
REFERENCES
1. English. S, Wilkinson. C, Baker. V (eds). 1997. Survey manual for Tropical
Marine Resources. Published by Australian Institute of Marine Science: 390 pp.
2. J.K. Patterson Edward, Jamila Patterson, M. Venkatesh, G. Mathews, C.
Chellaram and Dan Wilhelmsson (2004). A field guide to stony corals (Scleractinia) of
Tuticorin in Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India, 80 pp.
http://www.ramnad.tn.nic.in/biosphere.htm
http://sethusamudram.gov.in/PeterArticle.asp
CORAL REEFS DISTRIBUTION
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(GULF OF MANNAR)
Geomorphology:
The Gulf of Mannar has a chain of 20 islands located between 8 º 48' N, 78 º 9' E
and 9 º 14' N, 79 º 14' E on the southwest coast of India
Reef Structure and Corals:
All islands in the Gulf of Mannar have fringing reefs. In addition, there is a 8 km long
reef in the Palk Bay adjacent to the Gulf of Mannar, as well as patching coral
formation in the passage (Adam's Bridge) between India and Sri Lanka.
Noteworthy Fauna and Flora:
The Gulf of Mannar is particularly important for Green turtle and sea cow population,
both of which depend on the large seagrass beds particularly around Musal, Appa
and Balayamunai islands. Olive Ridley turtle is also occasionally found in this area.
The pro-chordate Balanoglossus is found in the northern reefs.
Mangroves are found on all islands and are particularly extensive in the Mandapam
group.
Status of Reef & disturbance / deficiencies:
The high turbidity of the water due to large scale coral mining and coastal erosion
from mainland cause deterioration of the reefs.
Exploitation of coral & shells for lime industries and hunting of dugong & turtles is
still prevalent.
Socio-economics:
Most of the islands have no freshwater and are therefore uninhabited. The most
productive chank and pearl oyster beds in India are found near Tuticorin and
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Kilakarai. The Windowpane oyster Placuna placenta is also found in the same area.
Large quantities of molluscan shells for the ornamental trade are collected in this
area. Recently, native people of this area have begun developing tourism also.
Chank or turbinella pyrum (a species unique to Gulf of Mannar and Indian coastline.
The species occurs only here and NOWHERE else in the world. This is a 8500 year-
old industry. At Kilakkarai, the chank are procured by West Bengal Handicrafts
Development Corporation.)
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http://envfor.nic.in/report/0102/ar-fig30.jpg
http://envfor.nic.in/icrmn/dist/mannar.html
Coral reefs at Mandapam near Kurusadai island in the Gulf of Mannar.
Often referred to as a "biologist's paradise" Kurusadai island is said to exemplify the
biological wealth of the Gulf of Mannar. The island is noted for the presence of a
unique endemic organism called "balanoglossus" (Ptychodera flava), a taxonomically
unique "living fossil" that links vertebrates and invertebrates.
Gulf of Mannar coral reef http://sethusamudram.gov.in/PeterArticle.asp
Coral reef at northeast of Single island “Along the coast of Gulf of Mannar, sea cliffs have been observed in Mandapam, Rameswaram, Pudumatam and Appa Island coastal areas. Generally the sea cliff and caves are made up of calcareous sandstone and located at the high water level. Due to intensive action of waves on cliffs at some places sea caves are formed. Such caves have been observed near Mandapam coastal area and Southwestern and Southern coastal areas of Appa Island. At some places, these features have been destroyed due to slumping of upper cliff materials.” (Source: http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/geology/geomorphology/ma06_259a.htm )
Gulf Of Mannar Marine National Park
A sanctuary with a difference, the Gulf of Mannar, falling in the Indo-Pacific
region is said to hold one of the world's richest biological resources.
Pamban island in the Gulf of Mannar. This region has some of the most important coral reefs off the mainland coast of India [STS033-76-60, 1989]. http://earth.jsc.nasa.gov/newsletter/CoralReefs/ What Alignment 4 means:
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Malabar Bowen map (1747) drawn by Netherlands shows Ramarcoil I (that is, Rama temple).
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Map drawn by Joseph Parks, Australian Botanical explorer (1788) shows Ramar Bridge (Map in Sarasvati Mahal Lib., Thanjavur)
Map of 1804, by James Rennel, First Surveyor General of India, renamed Ramar Bridge as Adam’s bridge
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Source: Asiatic Society, 1799, Asiatick Researches: Or, Transactions of the Society Instituted in Bengal, P. 52 refers to the bridge called Setband (alt. spelling, setuband like Allahband; setu-bandha), broken in 3 places. It also notes “The people call it a bridge; or otherwise it appears to have wood growing on it, and to be inhabited.”
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Religious and cultural sites, 8th-12th centuries http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=071 Schwartzberg Atlas, p. 34. Islamic expansion and changing Western views of South Asia, 7th-12th centuries http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/schwartzberg/pager.html?object=070 Schwartzberg Atlas, v. , p. 33.
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Setupati coinage, 16th and 17th century Obverse: Sri Ganapati, seated.Reverse, in Tamil, Se-Tu-Pa-(Ti missing).
(Nagaswamy R. 1979. Thiruttani and Velanjeri Copper Plates. State Dept. Of Archaeology, Tamilnadu. Madras. See: L’Hernault F. 1978. L’Iconographie de Subrahmanya au Tamilnad, Institut Francais d’ Indologie. Pondichery, p.111, ph. 63.) The copper plates indicate that Aparajitavarman went to Setutirtha. Parantaka Chola offers setutirthasnaanam and tulaabhaaram – 10