On October 29, 2020 the BMC received the green signal from the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Nagpur, for translocating the corals off the coast of Mumbai for the Rs 12,700-crore Mumbai Coastal Road Project.
- The Mumbai coast hosts a tiny population of corals. The corals found across rocky patches along the Mumbai coastline are mostly fast-growing and non-reef building corals.
- According to a survey by Marine Life of Mumbai, the city has 11 species of corals.
Coral Reefs
- According to the NOAA, corals are animals, though, because they do not make their own food, as plants do. Corals have tiny, tentacle-like arms that they use to capture their food from the water and sweep into their inscrutable mouths.
- Corals exhibit characteristics of plants, but are marine animals that are related to jellyfish and anemones. Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, can take many forms: large reef building colonies, graceful flowing fans, and even small, solitary organisms.
- Shallow water, reef-building corals have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues.
- Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They are also are a source of food and new medicines.
- The Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to one of the largest collections of coral reefs on the planet.
Coral Reefs in India
- According to the ESSO – INCOIS, coral reefs are present in the areas of Gulf of Kutch, Gulf of Mannar, Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep Islands and Malvan.
- In India, they are protected in the same way as the tiger or elephant, under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.
- There are many global initiatives such as Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN), Global Coral Reef Alliance (GCRA), and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) playing an important role in monitoring the reef zones and raising awareness in the public.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has included the studies on coral reef under the Coastal Zone Studies (CZS).
(Source: Indian Express, INCOIS and NOAA)
CLICK HERE FOR UPSC PRELIMS CURRENT AFFAIRS MCQ
