Plea: Coral reefs can protect islands in Gulf of Mannar

Madurai: The Madras high court on Monday sought a response from the Centre and state on a plea to prevent the islands situated in the Gulf of Mannar region from submerging by protecting the coral reefs.

A division bench of justices M M Sundresh and S Ananthi was hearing a public interest litigation filed by R Manibharathi, a law graduate from Madurai district.

The petitioner stated that there are 21 islands situated within the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve. As per experts, these islands would get submerged under water in the near future. He stated the area of Vaan Island which was 26.5 acres in 1973 has reduced. The reasons for submergence of these islands were due to various factors such as rising sea levels due to climate change, unsustainable fishing practices and coral reef mining.

Trap fishing is one of the prevalent practices adopted near the coral reefs in Gulf of Mannar region. He stated that fish traps are set around the reefs thereby damaging them.

He stated that the authorities who were involved in research deployed artificial coral reefs around Vaan Island.

In due course, they found out the natural coral reefs have started to colonise the artificial reefs which has contributed to the increase in land cover of Vaan Island by 54.51% from 2.33 to 3.6 hectares. He stated that Vallanguchalli and Poovarasanpatti islands in the Gulf of Mannar region have already submerged. Hence, the petitioner moved the high court Madurai bench.