Call to protect biodiversity-rich underwater ecosystem off Thiruvananthapuram coast

Friends of Marine Life (FML), a Thiruvananthapuram-based marine biodiversity forum, has sought the urgent intervention of the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and the Forest department to protect a newly-documented underwater ecosystem between Adimalathura and Poovar.

FML, in collaboration with SCUBA Cochin, documented the underwater region which is rich in marine biodiversity, FML chief coordinator Robert Panipilla said. “This is an underwater rocky habitat which is rich in fish wealth known to local fishers as ‘Panthakallu.’ The fish diversity assessment by FML has revealed the presence of over 30 families of reef fishes,” Mr. Panipilla said. The ecosystem exists at a depth of 15 m, he said.

In addition to fish, turtles, corals, sea sponges, bryozoans, hydrozoans, molluscs, feather stars and tube worms are also found in the region which lies due west of Kochuthura between Adimalathura and Poovar, according to him.

Two fishers from Poovar, Siluvakurissu and Dawilson guided the researchers during the documentation.

Mr. Panipilla said it was imperative that the KSBB and Forest department take steps to protect this marine biodiversity wealth.