‘Climate change has reduced coral cover’

‘Climate change has reduced coral cover’

Context:

According to conservation group WWF India, climate change has resulted in substantial decrease in India’s coral cover and growth n the last two decades

Coral diversity in India:

• Coral diversity and formation of reefs are centred around four major regions:
  • The Gulf of Kutch
  • The Lakshadweep atolls
  • The Gulf of Mannar
  • The Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Besides these hotspots, patchy reefs are present in other coastal regions, from the coast of Goa and parts of the Malvan marine national park to the Kanyakumari district in southern Tamil Nadu.

What factors lead to decrease in coral cover in India?

• Climate change is the primary factor, with multiple bleaching events occurring in the last two decades, resulting in substantial reductions to coral cover and growth.
• Increase atmospheric carbon dioxide have decreased the pH of oceans and resulting in ocean acidification, which seriously hinder the reef building capacity of corals
• Other factors include:
  • Overfishing
  • Unregulated coastal development
  • Nutrient, Heavy metal and chemical pollution

What should be done for the protection of coral reefs?

• WWF India has stressed the need for formulating a “holistic” approach for their protection.
• It has said the connectivity of India’s freshwater, coastal, offshore and marine systems must be taken into account when conserving such (corals) habitats and the management regimes must reflect this.