A recent study taken up by a team of researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Chennai, brought to light the serious threat of extinction the coral reef colonies and mangrove forests in the Palk Bay are facing. At present, only two per cent of the coral reefs survive in the area.

Global warming, siltation, release of untreated raw sewage into the water bodies and overgrowth of algae were stated to be the three important reasons for the possible disappearance of coral colonies and its associated organisms from the Palk Bay area.

The State Government will be taking over the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust from January 1, 2013.

Petitions challenge TNPCB and AERB orders

The Madras High Court on Thursday ordered notice to the Central government on two new writ petitions against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) — one seeking to quash a Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB)’s order of July 23 prescribing the tolerance limit of the project’s trade effluent and the other seeking to declare the AERB’s clearance for Initial Fuel Loading (IFL) as null and void.

Coral reef mining has caused two small islands in South Asia

bio-invasion:The exotic seaweed seen on Krusadai Island.
CHENNAI: Coral colonies in the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve are facing serious threat from an invasive seaweed, which is spreading rapidly, say marine researchers, who are worried about the phenomenon.

The bio-invasion by the sea weed, Kappaphycus alvarezii, was spread over only 10 square metres in 2008 in three islands

RAMANATHAPURAM: Mystery shrouds the death of birds, including Pelicans, an endangered migratory species, at Sakkarakottai tank here.

Forest officials of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP), ornithologists and veterinarians visited the spot on Sunday based on information that some birds were found dead in the tank.

As many as 10 Olive Ridley turtles have been hatched at Mandapam near here.

The first of the 107 eggs, which were collected and kept in a natural environment on January 5 by the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (GMMNP) officials, hatched at 5.45 a.m. on Tuesday.