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22ºN<br />
Okha<br />
Beliapani Reef<br />
Dwarka<br />
Cheriapani Reef<br />
Bitra<br />
Perumul<br />
Par<br />
Agatti<br />
Great Rann<br />
of Kutch<br />
Gulf of Kutch<br />
Pitti<br />
Pirotan<br />
Karumbhar<br />
Chetlat<br />
Kiltan<br />
Kadmat<br />
Amini<br />
70ºE<br />
Karavatti<br />
Little Rann<br />
of Kutch<br />
Jodiya<br />
Jamnagar<br />
Saurashtra<br />
Peninsula<br />
73ºE<br />
Androth<br />
Elikalpeni<br />
Bank<br />
92ºE 94ºE<br />
Andaman Is.<br />
North<br />
Andaman<br />
North Reef<br />
Interview<br />
South<br />
Sentinel<br />
Baratang<br />
South<br />
Andaman<br />
Rutland<br />
Narcondum<br />
Mayabandar<br />
Middle<br />
Andaman<br />
Cinque Is.<br />
Hut Bay<br />
Little<br />
Andaman<br />
Barren<br />
14ºN<br />
12ºN<br />
Ritchie's<br />
Archipelago<br />
Port Blair<br />
Live Cover<br />
25.8%<br />
Sand<br />
9.3%<br />
Dead Coral<br />
64.9%<br />
Figure 2. Benthic cover types recorded from the reefs of the Gulf of<br />
Mannar. Sorce: Venkataraman, unpublished report.<br />
10ºN<br />
9ºN<br />
Tuticorin<br />
Vembar<br />
Karaichalli<br />
Vilanguchalli<br />
Kasuwar<br />
Van Tivu<br />
Gulf of Kutch<br />
20ºN<br />
10ºN<br />
Suheli<br />
Nine Degree Channel<br />
Kilakarai<br />
Nallatanni<br />
Lakshadweep<br />
Islands<br />
MALDIVES<br />
Lakshadweep<br />
Islands<br />
79ºE<br />
Appa<br />
Minicoy<br />
Mandi<br />
Musal<br />
Cheriyam<br />
Kalpeni<br />
Pamban<br />
Pass<br />
Shingle<br />
Krusadai<br />
Pullivasal<br />
Gulf of Mannar<br />
INDIA<br />
Gulf of Mannar<br />
Figure 1. Coral reef areas of India.<br />
Rameswaram<br />
SRI<br />
LANKA<br />
Adams<br />
Bridge<br />
Ten Degree Channel<br />
Chaura<br />
Tarasa Dwip<br />
Car Nicobar<br />
Bati Malv<br />
Tillanchong<br />
Bompoka<br />
Katchall<br />
Nicobar Is.<br />
Little<br />
Nicobar<br />
Great Nicobar<br />
Bay of<br />
Bengal<br />
Andaman<br />
Islands<br />
10ºN<br />
Camorta<br />
Nicobar<br />
Islands<br />
8ºN<br />
bleached, but the extent of post bleaching mortality has<br />
not been established. Although some qualitative observations<br />
report bleaching and some coral mortality at<br />
several reefs, quantitative data are not available primarily<br />
because line transects performed last season did not<br />
specifically record bleached areas.<br />
THE IMPORTANCE OF REEF FISHERIES IN<br />
INDIA<br />
When discussing the importance of reef fisheries for a<br />
country, it is important to distinguish between its importance<br />
in providing food, foreign currency and employment.<br />
In India, the reef fishery is not very important<br />
in terms of total fish landings or earnings when<br />
compared to other fishing sectors such as the demersal<br />
fishery in the shallow coastal areas or the tuna fishery<br />
around islands of Lakshadweep. Most Indian fishers<br />
make their living from either the pelagic fisheries, the<br />
prawn trawl fishery or the small-scale demersal fishery.<br />
However, the focus of India’s fisheries are likely to<br />
change due to increasing demand from foreign markets<br />
for high quality reef fish such as grouper and snapper<br />
and also because of over capitalisation and exploitation<br />
of coastal shelf areas. So whereas reefs are hardly considered<br />
important for the fishery at present they may become<br />
so.<br />
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