Biodiversity and Conservation of Scleractinian Corals in India

By : M. Kishore Kumar , P. Arul Manova , M. Kavipriya

Page No: 1-8

Abstract
Scleractinia, also called stony corals or hard corals, are marine animals in the phylum Cnidaria that build themselves a hard skeleton. Stony corals occur in all the world’s oceans. The scleractinia corals of India have a richer diversity when compared to the other reefs of the tropical world. Settlement, industrial pollution, exploitation of reef resources, tourism, dredging of lagoon and reefs, siltation due to deforestation are some of the major man made causes for the destruction of the reefs and mass mortality of corals all over the world. Several national and state level committees with a view to protecting our reefs have been formulated. All the Scleractinian corals are protected under wildlife protection Act, 1972 and listed in Schedule – I which prevent its collection. Hence, there should be spread awareness among all the people throughout the country to conserve the Scleractinian corals biodiversity.

Authors :
M. Kishore Kumar
Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Instittute, Poneeri - 601204, India.

P. Arul Manova
Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Instittute, Poneeri - 601204, India.

M. Kavipriya
Dr. M.G.R. Fisheries College and Research Instittute, Poneeri - 601204, India.
 

DOI: http://doi.org/10.32381/JAT.2020.35.1-4.1