Andaman and Nicobar Islands Coral Reefs

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, union territory, India, consisting of two groups of
islands at the southeastern edge of the Bay of Bengal.

- Andaman and Nicobar Islands is home to over 560 species of corals

- The common genera contributing to the reef formation are Acropora,
Montipora, Pocillopora, Porites, Goniopora, Favia, Fungia, Millepora, Soft
Coral (Sarcophyton sp.) Heliopora etc., A notable feature of these islands is
the abundance of non-scleractinian (soft) corals at certain localities.

- The Andaman sea also hosts many endangered fauna species – Whale
Shark, Devil Manta Ray, Dugong, several dolphin species, such as
Irrawaddy Dolphin and four species of sea turtles. There are only about
 150 Dugongs in the Andaman Sea, scattered in Thailand between Ranong
and Satun provinces.
- A dugong:
-

- The dugong is the state animal of the Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Threats:
- The influx of tourists to the islands caused the Island Coastal Regulation
Zone (ICRZ) of the islands to reduce, allowing for ci=oastal development.
- The Coral reefs face many threats from the coastal development project, such
as:
- Physical damage or destruction
- Fish practices and gear
- Boat anchors and grounding
- Touching or removing corals

Why are they worth saving:

- Coral reefs are stretched over an area of 11,000 sq km in the Andamans
while the Nicobars have 2,700 sq km under coral reefs. The ANI have
fringing reefs around east coast and a long barrier reef (320 km) on the west.
- The andaman and nocobar island’s main source of income is from tourism.