Figure 3. Coral Reefs of India

There are no coral reefs on the central east and west coasts of India. The conditions here, especially salinity and high sediment load, are not ideal for coral growth. Most major rivers of India, like the Ganges, flow into the sea on the east coast, bringing in lots of sediments that would not allow the corals to grow. On the west coast, the monsoon is intense from June to August. The fresh water flow into the sea at this time reduces salinity to less than half of the normal and the sea water becomes murky brownish with the sediments.

The Indian coral reefs are world famous but least explored, studied and utilised. On the other hand, they are indiscriminately damaged by human exploitation mainly for the cement industry (calcium carbide), road and building material in certain areas like the Gulf of Mannar and the Gulf of Kutch. The other two regions, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep, because of their far-flung location from the mainland, are comparatively less affected by human depredations.