Report on Lakshadweep Wetlands/coral reefs. - of Planning ...

• Pitti is of great importance since such breeding colonies are very rare in theIndian territory.Status of Coral Reef In LakshadweepStatus Before 2000• The 1998 bleaching affected all reefs, impacting 40 to 90% of live coral cover.• Live coral cover was no more than 10% at Kadmat Island after bleachinghappened.• The most seriously impacted corals in all reefs were branching and tabulateAcropora sp and Pocillopora sp.Strengths of LCRMN surveys• Infrastructure – adequate diving gears, compressors, boats• Capacity – 20 participants trained in diving and survey techniques• Quality check – cross check by Indian and Australian trainers and comparisonbetween data collected by scientist-divers and islander-divers.Strategy for surveys• Minimum one survey in each island every year.• 5 Line Intercept Transects around each island.• Recording of percentage cover of bio-physical properties over a 20 mtransect laid at 10 m depth.Traits recorded1. Live coral (LC) = (Acropora and non Acropora sp.)2. Dead coral with algae (DCA)3. Algae = (Algal assemblage and sea grass)4. Others (OT) = (Soft coral, sponge other animals)5. Abiotic = (Sand, rubbles and rocks)6. Dead Coral (DC)7. Coral Forms8. Island-wise status of live coral cover and Algal cover and reef recovery duringThe years 2001 – 2006 in Agatti and Kavaratti.Example of Agatti Island benthic categories result16