Tuticorin: The Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, (GOMBRT) Ramanathapuram has sanctioned a project on environmental factors influencing the spatio-temporal variations of fin and shell fish eggs and larvae in Gulf of Mannar.
Fisheries College and Research Institute, Tuticorin, a constituent college of Tamilnadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) will undertake the project at a cost of Rs.7, 68,900.
Due to factors of human interference, rapid industrialisation and urbanisation the marine ecosystem was degrading at fast pace.
In this regard, Gulf of Mannar was no exception and it was highly threatened by various anthropogenic activities such as discharge of untreated domestic sewages, heated effluents from the shore based thermal power plants, effluents from the fertilizer and chemical industries into the adjoining coastal waters of Gulf of Mannar.
It would certainly affect the diversity of fauna and flora to a greater extent, V.K. Venkatramani, Director, Research and Extension, FCRI, said here on Sunday.
Besides, the recent climatic and environmental changes in the marine ecosystem had also affected the distribution of plankton, particularly larval forms of fishes to a greater extent.
An intensive study would also be undertaken to ascertain the impact of environmental factors on the distribution of fish eggs and larvae all along the coast of Gulf of Mannar.
It would help in predicting the exact spawning season for the highly exploited fish and accordingly closed season would also be suggested to save the stock to policy makers.
Apart from this, the study would have an impact to recognise the spawning pattern of exploited shell fish species along the Gulf of Mannar.
A. Srinivasan, Professor, Department of Fisheries Environment, would be the principal investigator of the project, he added
Source:The Hindu, 3-8-2010
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