Gulf of Mannar

Gulf of Mannar Latest News

The Gulf of Mannar has witnessed a steep decline in bird numbers over the last four decades, with overall shorebird abundance dropping by nearly 57%, according to a peer-reviewed study published recently.

About Gulf of Mannar

• It is a vast shallow bay that forms part of the Laccadive Sea in the Indian Ocean. 
• It is located between southeastern India and western Sri Lanka. 
• The gulf is 130–275 km wide and 160 km long.  
• It is bounded to the northeast by Rameswaram (island), Adam’s (Rama’s) Bridge (a chain of shoals), and Mannar Island.
• It is connected to the Palk Bay in the north through the Palk Strait. 
• It receives several rivers, including the Tambraparni (India) and the Aruvi (Sri Lanka).
• The port of Tuticorin is on the Indian coast. 
• The gulf is noted for its pearl banks and sacred chank (a gastropod mollusk).

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Gulf of Mannar Biodiversity

• Endowed with three distinct coastal ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves), it is considered one of the world’s richest regions from a marine biodiversity perspective. 
• There are known to be over 4,223 species of flora and fauna in the Gulf of Mannar.
• Sea Turtles, sharks, dugongs, and dolphins are regular visitors to the Gulf, and 117 species of hard coral have been recorded here.
• The Gulf became a protected national park in 1986, earning the name Gulf of Mannar National Park. 
• It was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 1989, the first such marine conservation area in India and the South Asian region.

News: NIE