The New Indian Express Supports CPF's Stand on KAPPA PHYCUS. THE PROMOTERS look INNOCENT

Seaweed threatens coral reef in Gulf of Mannar
THOOTHUKUDI: Appaphycus alvarezii, a seaweed native to the Philippines has become a very serious and perennial threat to the Gulf of Mannar ecosystem as noted by officials and scientists recently. Termed aptly as ‘bio-invasion’, the invasive seaweed destroys the corals after choking them by preventing photosynthesis, resulting in loss of fish production and ultimately leading to livelihood crisis for the fishing community.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, R Sundararaju told Express that kappaphycus if not controlled, kills corals and added that periodic removal is necessary. “We have asked the Central government for necessary funds to remove this seaweed to save the marine environment”, he said.
“Initial survey has revealed that kappaphycus has invaded coral reef colonies in Shingle, Krusadai and Poomarichan islands off Mandapam coast and around 1 sq km reef areas with about 480 colonies were affected”, SDMRI Director and Marine Biologist JK Patterson Edward told Express.
It may be noted that 30 sq km reef area of the total 110 sq km has already degraded due to mining and destructive fishing in the last three decades. “Kappaphycus- invaded coral colonies were dead because of shadowing and smothering effects of the attached fragments and this can even penetrate deep up to 5-10 cm within the branching coral colonies”, he said.
The worst part is that removing kappaphycus permanently is by no means possible as even a fragment of it will invade new locations. “Periodic removal of this seaweed is necessary to save the corals and to check the kappaphycus from spreading further”, JK Patterson Edward added.
Presently, assessment was made only in three of the total 21 islands in Gulf of Mannar and there is every possibility for the kappaphycus to have spread in other coral dominated islands also. It may be noted that this algae introduced in 1995 in Gulf of Mannar is still thriving in the Palk Bay.
Speaking to Express, Wildlife Warden in Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park N Sundarakumar said that the kappaphycus is indeed a threat to this biosphere especially when corals are recovering fast and overcoming pollution.
“Any disease can only be spotted at a particular stage and this ecological threat has been identified only recently”, he said.