In a bid to improve marine ecology of the state, the Gujarat Ecology Commission would be transplanting corals from the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu to the Gulf of Kutch.
“We will be taking up a coral transplantation project on a pilot basis for five years to improve marine ecology in the Gulf of Kutch,” GEC member secretary E. Balagurusami told PTI.
“Under this project, we aim to transplant corals from Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu to Gulf of Kutch. This transplantation would be done in five to six islands,” he said, adding this would be done with the help of Tamil Nadu forest department.
“Since the ecological conditions in Mannar and Kutch, including the salinity in water are identical, it has been decided to transplant corals from Gulf of Mannar,” he said.
The total reef area in the Gulf of Kutch has decreased over the years, primarily due to natural and man-made causes.
Among the natural causes, the most significant are geographic isolation and extreme environmental conditions leading to the survival of only a few hardy species.
Siltation due to legal and illegal mining of corals, construction of harbours and industries in the vicinity of coral reefs are some of the key cause of reduction in species of corals in the Gulf of Kutch.
