Chat Archives

Chat on "Conservation of Marine Diversity in India" dated February 18, 2011

Susan Sharma: Welcome to our monthly online chat.
K. Venkataraman: Welcome to the Chat on Marine Biodiversity in India
K. Venkataraman: India has all different types of Marine Ecosystems present in the world
K. Venkataraman: India has Coral reef Ecosystem, Sea Grass Ecosystem, Sea weed Ecosystem, Mangrove Ecosystem, Pelagic and Benthic Ecosystem and so on
Susan Sharma: Can you explain Pelagic and Benthic?
K. Venkataraman: Pelagic is upper portion of the sea water column where in different types marine organisms live
K. Venkataraman: The Benthic ecosystem is the deeper part of the ocean where the sun light cannot reach
K. Venkataraman: Even in the deepest ocean where light cannot reach millions of animals, bacteria live
K. Venkataraman: Welcome Mr Pradeep Sharma to the chat
Pradeep Sharma: as a layman, I would be intereseted in knowing the impact of the proposed international airport in Mumbai?
Pradeep Sharma: Many thanks Mr Venkataraman!
K. Venkataraman: However how to minimise these impacts is the Scientists work.
Pradeep Sharma: Oh, I think the chat does not allow more then 164 characters, can you please copy it again?
K. Venkataraman: It is very interesting to know about the impacts on the upcoming Airport.
Pradeep Sharma: certainly and it has been a sensitive issue lately
K. Venkataraman: Definetely there will be impact on the marine organisms because of the new developments.
Pradeep Sharma: ok
K. Venkataraman: However, how to minimise such impact is the Scientists job
Pradeep Sharma: Are there specific zones in marine eco-system, supporting particular type of organisms or species?
K. Venkataraman: Yes. There are a lot of such zones, habitats, ecosystems are there
Pradeep Sharma: I would like to know this in context of the airport?
Pradeep Sharma: Like which species and/or eco-system are supposed to be affected?
K. Venkataraman: In the context of the airport, the tidal (low and high) zone is very important for organisms they live both in soil, water and need sunlight
K. Venkataraman: and air
K. Venkataraman: In case if these zones which are called intertidal zones which are affected many marine organisms cannot live
K. Venkataraman: because these inter tidal zones where the marine organisms come for reproduction.
Pradeep Sharma: ok
K. Venkataraman: This also called euphotic zone.
Pradeep Sharma: ok
K. Venkataraman: Many species which are living in the intertidal zone will get affected
Pradeep Sharma: What are the common threats to marine eco-systems in general in the country?
K. Venkataraman: Population, poverty, and illiteracy are the major cause for marine ecosystem.
K. Venkataraman: Pollution, Alien Invasive speices, climate change are also causing major threat to marine ecosystem and species
K. Venkataraman: Welcome to Shashi Kant Sharma to the Chat
Pradeep Sharma: does pollution include industrial effluents?
K. Venkataraman: Also some of the Natural threats are Cyclone, Tsunami, earth quake etc.
Pradeep Sharma: ok
K. Venkataraman: Major pollution is of made made and industry made
K. Venkataraman: Industrial pollution cause major damage to all marine life.
K. Venkataraman: For exampe The pollution created from the industries in Delhi will taken by Yamuna River
K. Venkataraman: and dump it in Bay Bengal. There is a system beyond Srilanka called Bengal Fan where all the pollution from
Pradeep Sharma: Yamuna is almost dead--resembles a sewer flow sadly
Shashi Kant Sharma: Wll the recently notified coastal zone regulation make a difference as far as discharge of effluents is concerned?
K. Venkataraman: India accumulates and finally from the Bengal Fan it is distributed to Antarctica and Australia.
K. Venkataraman: But Yamuna is live during rainy season which carries all the pollution from Delhi. Like wise Krishna, Gothawari, Kaveri
Pradeep Sharma: I did not have any idea of magnitude of this problem!
K. Venkataraman: All these reivers are dumping poisonous chemicals regularly since independance of India
K. Venkataraman: Magnitude is very high but all this poisonous chemicals get diluted and circulated throughout the world throughout the year
Pradeep Sharma: another disturbing perspective of 'development'
K. Venkataraman: What you do in Delhi or Bombay will create problem in Andaman.
K. Venkataraman: Like wise what is created in USA will have problem in Andaman and Bombay
K. Venkataraman: Welcome Ritesh Patel to the Chat
Pradeep Sharma: So all this is interconnected even at continent-level?!
K. Venkataraman: The Development with out problem is called sustainable living. The whole world is working for this only including our government.
K. Venkataraman: Yes. All continents are interconnected. What happens in Africa wilkl affect the marine life of India
Pradeep Sharma: that is essential and crucial else it is going to be disastrous
K. Venkataraman: For example the African Dust strom brings in a lot of disease producing organisms to Indian Sea and dump it
Shashi Kant Sharma: Are there any specific projects being tkenup fr conservation of Marin Diversity o the lines of the wild life conservatio?
K. Venkataraman: This dumping creates a lot of problem for the marine life in India
K. Venkataraman: Yes. In the Ministry of Environment there is High level National Committeeon Mangroves and Coral reefs which
K. Venkataraman: looks after the conservation of Coral and Mangrove. We have Wildlife Act 1972 which helps in protecting many marine organisms
Shashi Kant Sharma: Do we need specific Projects for identified areas for safeguardng marine life
K. Venkataraman: There are Turtle sanctuary, Coral National Park and the sharks, dugong, marine shells, corals are protected by Government of India
K. Venkataraman: Shashi- we need many young persons to jump in the marine waters and save all the marine life which are living with us for a long time
Shashi Kant Sharma: Awaeness being low, the Projects probably do not have avery high profile. Of coure the Ridley hasbeen in the news
K. Venkataraman: Awareness is the major component of Conservation. This wildlife club is one of that kind creating awareness among the young minds.
Susan Sharma: Thank you Dr. Venkataraman
K. Venkataraman: How many youngster know diving (SCUBA). You cannot identify changes in the underwater without going inside with SCUBA
K. Venkataraman: I am a professional Diver Master and I am the one and only person whio teaches scientific diving
Susan Sharma: India is surrounded on three sides by waters , still we have few divers
K. Venkataraman: All of you can learn diving. with out diving you cannot understand the marine world. It is different.
K. Venkataraman: India is protected in the north by Himalaya. But on all the three sides coral reefs like China Wall protecting India 365 days
Shashi Kant Sharma: Where all in India can one go to diving school?
K. Venkataraman: If coral reefs are not there the whole peninsular india will be underwater
K. Venkataraman: There are dive schools in Bombay, Goa and Andaman. But in Lakshadweep the Instructor called Mr Samsudeen is wonderfull to help you
Shashi Kant Sharma: Thanks
K. Venkataraman: So far I have trained many forest officers, researchers, NGOs in Andaman and Lakshadweep.
K. Venkataraman: If you want to know about marine life go to Andaman and see the real wonder world. No where in the Indian ocean such place is available
Shashi Kant Sharma: What time of the yr. is best suited>
K. Venkataraman: The global warming is creating a big problem to coral reefs in India.
K. Venkataraman: Already the corals available in the Gulf of Mannar is dying.
K. Venkataraman: Andaman if you want to dive DEC- March is best. Jan - May Lakshadweep is best.
Shashi Kant Sharma: Thanks. About how much doesdiving programme cost for a new convert?Global warming seems to be the cause of too many of our problems
Susan Sharma: I saw a film "Coral Gardener" A man in Fiji is growing coral underwater and replanting them in the sea!
K. Venkataraman: For open water diving it costs 15,000 rupees
K. Venkataraman: For advanced open water another 15 000 you have to spend
Susan Sharma: Some one in Andamans must start a coral garden-may be government can take the initiative.
K. Venkataraman: For Rescue diving and Medic first aid it costs about 2000 US dollers
Pradeep Sharma: How the turtles are different from tortoise?
K. Venkataraman: For Dive Master which is the fifth level of diving it costs 6000 us dollers
K. Venkataraman: Coral Garden can be made where corals are not there.
Shashi Kant Sharma: My + the equipment. That is steep and may be the reason why we donot have too any divers in India
K. Venkataraman: Andaman is supposed to be Paradise for Corals better than Great Barrier reef.
K. Venkataraman: India has more than 250+ coral speecies reported so far and it is estimated that 400 corals may live in India
K. Venkataraman: India is very close to the GOLDEN TRIANGLE for corals
Susan Sharma: Please visit http://www.indianwildlifeclub.com/Ezine/View/Details.aspx?aid=674 to see some wonderful marine posters
K. Venkataraman: The GOLDEN TRIANGLE for coral is Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia
Shashi Kant Sharma: Just for information, how many speciesof coral are there?
K. Venkataraman: There ae 800 corals are there reported till today. Phillippines has 600, Indinesia and Malaysia has equal numbers.
K. Venkataraman: There 3350 molluscs are there in India 1500 fishes are reported 756 Echinoderms (star fishes) are reported till today
Shashi Kant Sharma: So most of them Corals are right here in the Asia-Pacific?
K. Venkataraman: 16 species of sea grass, 850 species of sea weeds, 64 species of mangroves etc etc
K. Venkataraman: Yes. The corals live only in the tropical seas. Among tropical seas Indian Ocean is more diverse than all the oceans
K. Venkataraman: For example in one coral reef more than 3000 species of organisms occur in Inida but Florida coast has only 1000.
K. Venkataraman: India is great and it is Great India
K. Venkataraman: We possess so much biodiversity wealth and we do not know how toprotect it. Like Figi has very less coral hence they want coral Garden
Shashi Kant Sharma: Yes, like everything else even in thi respect India does seem to be blessed
K. Venkataraman: India has all ecosystems available in the world. We actually do not know the real weal we posses
K. Venkataraman: I mean real wealth
Shashi Kant Sharma: I confess the level of awareness is very low
K. Venkataraman: In case if there is a rebirth we should once again born in India and no where else in the world
K. Venkataraman: When there youngsters like you we need not worry
Shashi Kant Sharma: Amen
K. Venkataraman: The the flag of conservation in your hand and give it to the next generation. That is the need of the hour.
Pradeep Sharma: It has been an illuminating addition to my knowledge regarding marine eco-systems!
K. Venkataraman: Yes- we go the sea shore collect all the shells and bring it home and through it to the dust bin. How long one can do this??????
Shashi Kant Sharma: Wonder if IWC can host a PPt done by an authoity like Mr Venkatarman, on marine diversity in India and areas people can go to, for an experience
Susan Sharma: As soon as the chat is over, the transcript will be online. Please send the link to your friends.
K. Venkataraman: The ornamental shells which are supposed to be in the sea which is home for many animals we destroy every thing aout of ignorance
K. Venkataraman: Ok thanks
Pradeep Sharma: Many thanks!
K. Venkataraman: I am very happy to give ppt presentation to all children about what we have in out country on Marine ecosystem
Susan Sharma: Looking at our ignorance I think we need to have more chats on specific marine resourcese
K. Venkataraman: Yes we need to have many more chat like this
Susan Sharma: And of course, we can host the PPt in our online club
K. Venkataraman: I want to do that eye to eye with many more stories and description in Delhi.
Susan Sharma: We are also nearing one hour. When you are in Delhi next, please let me know. We can talk about hosting a slide show.
K. Venkataraman: OK thanks and Good Night to all
Susan Sharma: Thank you Dr. Venkataraman for a scintillating chat
K. Venkataraman: Think coral Dream coral and dont eat coral. we need it for our future generation to live.
Susan Sharma: Thank you Pradeep, Shashi and Ritesh
Susan Sharma: I am closing the room. Look out forthe transcript online!