Gulf of Mannar in dire danger - GOMBRT DIRECTOR Blames the Poor Fishers.

Published on Deccan Chronicle (http://www.deccanchronicle.com)
Gulf of Mannar in dire danger

Jun 08 2010
June 7: Unprecedented poaching of sea cow, seahorse, sea cucumber and sea snakes and dangerous fishing techniques like coral reef fish trap has pushed the Gulf of Mannar marine national park, the first of its kind in South East Asia, to the verge of destruction, according to the top official of the Gulf of Mannar biosphere reserve trust.

“Unfortunately, the poaching is done by people who have been entrusted with the protection of the 360-km-long Gulf of Mannar Biosphere. A president of the eco development club is leading the business of poaching. There is a big market for exotic varieties of sea snake, sea cow and seahorse in countries like China,” said Ms Aruna Basu Sarkar, chief conservator of forests and director, GOMBRT, Ramanathapuram.

Addressing the state-level consultation on community agro-biodiversity management at the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation here on Monday, she said lack of coordination between various state agencies entrusted with the protection of this marine national park has hastened the denuding of the country’s exotic marine wealth. “The marine ornamental fish and sea snakes of Gulf of Mannar have become almost extinct. Industrial groups in connivance with locals are illegally poaching seaweeds and other marine species,” said Ms Sarkar. She pointed out that the fish and marine varieties of GoM are well-known all over the world for their medicinal values.

Prof M.S. Swaminathan, MP, eminent agricultural scientist and member of the national advisory council to the Government of India said, “While other countries are seriously preserving the coral reefs, we are indiscriminately destroying them at the GoM”.

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