International Biodiversity Day focuses on marine wealth of Kanyakumari district – Tamil Nadu

As the theme of the current year is marine bio-diversity, a team led by the environmental educator, S. S. Davidson met fish workers at Manakudy and explained the need to conserve the rich marine eco-system. He wanted them to be proud of their rich marine wealth .

He said that Kanyakumari district has 68 kms of coastal line dotted with more than 50 fishing hamlets , covering the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. There were more than 30 turtle nesting spots along the coastal line and the Manakudy estuary formed a major part of the marine eco-system. The estuary enhanced the livelihood of fish workers and supported the rich tapestry of marine species such as fishes, prawns, crabs, mullets etc.

Jacob Robert Singh, the managing trustee of the foundation said that the mangrove forests in the estuary augmented fish production as it served as a fertile breeding and nursery ground for a host of marine fishes and shrimps.

The team also spotted some aquatic birds as painted storks, pelicans, spot billed duck, white ibis, black ibis, cormorants, ash heron and white herons in the estuary. [...]

Speaking at a function organised here on the occasion of ‘International Day for Biological Diversity’ on Tuesday, [Collector K. Nandakumar] said the United Nations had proclaimed that May 22 as the ‘International Biodiversity Day’ to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. It had also recognised the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve as one of the 10 richest biodiversity reserves. [...]