MARINE ECOSYSTEM

EMCBTAP-ENVIS NEWSLETTER
DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
UNIVERSITY OF KERALA, KARIAVATTOM - 695 581
SPONSOR

Vol. 1 March, 2003 No. 2

EDITORIAL

Humanity entered the 21st Century with two strongly contrasting views on the future. One
pointed to a new millennium filled with the hope of information technology, genetic
engineering and revolutions in health and medical sciences; the other showcased the
irretrievable destruction of our natural life support systems through toxic wastes, global
warming, land degradation, climatic change, and the loss of biodiversity. The former
suggested that humanity was the best thing that could have happened to the earth; the latter
said it was the worst.

Because human activity both nearshore and far

upstream, places many marine species at risk, there CONTENTS
is a great need for comprehensive far-reaching
strategies to conserve marine biodiversity. The Invited articles
over-fishing of a single species can certainly affect
1. Mining of sea bed sand... 2
other, unharvested species within the marine
ecosystem. But, even such disturbances as 2. Marine Pollution .. 4
deforestation along a river can lead to the
degradation of a coral reef or estuary thousands of Book Review .. 7
kilometers away. To be effective, future measures
must include not only mechanisms for protecting News Briefs 8
species (and ecosystems) whose ranges overlap
several countries but also mechanisms to protect News Flash 10
species within international waters. They should
address stresses that originate in one country and Recent Publications .. 11
yet affect the resources of a neighboring country,
and they should be applied to marine ecosystems as
a whole rather than just their component parts. Ideally these mechanisms would take into
account the dynamic nature of marine systems.

Coastal oceans are under intense pressure due to over-fishing , coastal development and
terrigenous pollution. Lack of understanding of the dynamics of coastal ecosystems, has
seriously impeded management and policy efforts. We need to know how these ecosystems
work so that we can make better use of applied management strategies.

This newsletter is a quarterly non priced publication of ENVIS March 10, 2003
Node on Marine Ecosystem at Department of Geology,
University of Kerala, Kariavattom. The Node is supported by
funds from Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government
of India, under EMCBTAP of World Bank. The node is Prof. Thrivikramji, K. P
building databases on information related to Marine
Ecosystem and expertise available in the region and ongoing
Editor
activities. The content of the newsletter may be quoted or
reproduced for non-commercial use, provided source is duly
acknowledged. Request for subscription may be sent at the Dr. A.N. Rajan, Programme Officer
address given. Contributions to the newsletter are welcome. Abhilash Chandran, IT Assistant
 INVITED ARTICLES

Mining of Sea Bed Sand: Scientific Basis

Prof. Thrivikramji, K.P
University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581

Introduction

The ingenuity of man always had motivated him to explore the nature to locate usable
commodities for his own sustenance and hence of Human civilization. Recent idea of
gathering construction grade fine aggregate or sand from the seabed in the continental shelf is
one of those. It is not at all a new idea any way. We all now know that several island nations
as well as others have been gathering sand for application in the concrete or cement mortar or
for recovery of valuable minerals. In this article I will examine briefly the feasibility of the
proposition from a geological stand point most often ignored point. In a very short time, the
public mindset in Kerala got sharply divided into one of the two camps, viz., the protagonists
and the antagonists.

Any construction using cement concrete and steel calls for what are called in industry circles,
as coarse and fine aggregates. As far as the former is concerned, there is no great confusion as
to the types or sources, by the sheer knowledge that natural processes of weathering of rocks
and erosion and transport, do not produce it. Thus, obvious and uncontroversial recourse had
been and still is to source it from a rock-crushing-sizing plant. Contrary to this, the fine
aggregate (= commercially designated as sand) used to be sourced and gathered from the
modern and ancient river channels, shallow sea bed in the inner shelf, as well as in the
provinces away from the riverine or shelf sources, from the crusher tailings (after screening).
With out a geo-scientific knowledge of origin of sea sand, its mining scenario may run into
sentiment and emotion ridden realms and unrealities.

Geological background

Truly, quantities of sand sized quartz (a primary constituent of commonest surface rocks like
gneisses and granite, with a share of only 30% by volume and a mineral of chemical and
physical neutrality to cement) is under transport in the stream channels, from the erosion
rocks and soils (disaggregated by chemical weathering). Further, this sand has many
temporary storage sites like in the channels as sand bars of various types, in the flood plains,
in the abandoned channels etc.

Unfortunately, in Kerala, not only that we exhausted all the stream channel sand as result of
the construction boom in the last decades, but ecologically and physically killed all the rivers
themselves for ever (in human terms), by continuing the approval to gather river sand, to the
local bodies under the three tier panchayats. For the cash strapped local administration, this
policy was the Magna-carta for survival.

River sources its sand immediately from the soil only; majority of us do not know that a meter
of soil needs at least a million years to form. Further in an in situ soil, sand sized quartz is
just about 20 to 30 percent. Hence the rate of sand production is an extremely slow geological
process and a non-event in human terms.

In addition, sand that reaches the sea bed is again worked by the wave and tide generated
currents and gradually transported beach ward to be deposited there, sometimes permanently.
Like in many beaches of Kerala, sand that accumulated in the beach face is eroded and shifted

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 2
massively to the inshore to be stored in the in shore as long-shore submarine bars, and to be
slowly re-transported and deposited in the beach any way.

Due to the large scale fluctuations of sea level, in the Pleistocene, shorelines of the continents
including that of India, stood several 10 s meters ( for India 100 m.) below the present
shoreline, forcing the rivers draining the continents to flow through longer courses (over the
modern continental shelf) and to deposit the sand there. This scenario is unfortunately not in
the knowledge base of lay citizens and the non-specialists - hence, all the hue and cry now
foul the air.

Data - State of the art

The most productive shelf region of Kerala, is rather vast and stands at 22400 Km2 (length
560 Km and width of shelf ~ 40Km) or 20,000 Km2 - to strike conservative figure. As a
marine geologist, I say that there exists a considerably large quantum of reliable data with the
NIO, MW of GSI and some others, indicating the earlier lower stands of sea level and hence
of the past shoreline elevations. Mapping of the sandy sediment in the seabed can be taken up
by shallow geophysical and geological work, in order to isolate potential areas for commercial
dredging. The dredged sand can be washed in seawater, and later on further washed in fresh
water and not exactly drinking standard water. More over introduction of special cement that
would accommodate mildly salty sand will go a long way in reducing the water use by this
process.

We often ignore, vastness of the resources of the continental shelf - living and non-living and
renewable to varying degrees (including sea bed sediment of a decameter or two in depth) -
which is so large in proportion to the land based resources, due to the very size of the sea bed.
We have been gathering large quantities of the living resources of the oceanic realm to
complement our (sea) food needs. Large hue and cry is expressly unheard of about this issue,
as it supports and contributes to the gastronomic needs and also to the GDP. On top of this we
also believe in the ability of the species to regenerate.

I might state that the sandy-mud or the gravelly-sandy-mud (with black minerals in certain
parts off Kerala, and certain other continents) covering sea bed is a non-living resource in the
conventional sense, though only forms at a very low rate today. But it was supplied
continuously to the seabed or shelf by the west flowing rivers - large and small draining the
land surface in the Quaternary, i.e., say during the last 1.8 million yr. BP. Therefore, it is
wise to keep an inventory of all the viable sources of the raw materials like quartz sand and
mineral sand, useful to mankind. This is only commonsensical any way. The question of
express exploitation comes only as the close second.

Numbers game

With the geological background of the sea bed, rate of soil formation, erosion and transport
processes, weathering of rocks, rock composition and hence nature of sediment cover, some
volume estimates are essential to fully appreciate the concept underlying sea sand mining.
Given a land area of 38863 Km2 for Kerala, it is possible to estimate the size of the sand
content (in the sea bed sediment), for a source slab of uniform thickness of 1.0 m., provided
we have data on percentage content of quartz sand (for us 30%) and Sp.Gr. of 2.65. By
weathering and erosion, this slab ought to yield quartz laden sediment headed to the sea to the
west toward the Laccadive Sea. Estimated sand content of this slab is (31 e9 Tons) stands at
~30 Billion Tons. By the way, the same slab also would have an ilmenite (at a Sp.Gr. of 4.5
and abundance of 0.5% in the source rock) content of (874 e6) or say 874 Million tons. There
are certain limitations any to these estimated numbers. Here, I consider the land-river-sea
system as a closed system (which is more or less true), basement rocks to have uniform

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 3
character and expressly no rate of erosion is assumed. Then, I have not estimated the sand
storage in the strand plain of Kerala.

If we allow the entire Pleistocene to be the period of erosion - well over 1.8 Million years
which is more than what is essential for the formation of 1.0 M of soil. This exercise is carried
out only to broaden the realities of the sand content of the sea bed. I still believe that these are
fair estimates as ceiling figures. Further work can refine these projections realistically.

Certainly, post depositional sediment transport by wave and tide generated currents would
have effected further redistribution of this sand on the sea bed at preferred sites and forms to
be discovered only by mapping by appropriate tools available to marine geo-science to day.

Unfortunately, some data or facts (and not the science per se) of geo-science are very simple
to be appreciated by the non-specialist and the layman alike. Most of the time such people,
become highly opinionated just for the fun of being one (?). In the case of sea sand also we
face such a dilemma. Obviously, these need to be truly proven to be true by sea bed mapping
and exploration, and only then, one can finally offer another source for the sand starved
construction industry.

Marine Pollution: Causes and Consequences

A.N. Rajan & Thrivikramji, K.P
University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581

Pollution of the world's oceans is quickly becoming a major problem on Earth. We know very
little about the effect that pollution has on the oceans, but we continue to dispose of
chemicals, sewage and garbage into it at an unprecedented rate. Most people likely do not
even know what types of pollutants reach the oceans. There may be billions of people
unconcerned about ocean pollution and hence this problem. Truly the fish catch from the sea
will tend to bio concentrate the pollutants to finally reach the humans.
Toxic Ocean Pollutants

Toxic pollutants in the ocean ecosystem have massive impacts on the plants and animals.
Heavy metal poisoning (such as lead and mercury) from industrial effluents accumulate in the
tissues of top predators such as whales and sharks (so do not hesitate to support ban of
hunting whales and sharks but to the dislike of many others). Many a times such poisoning
causes birth defects and damages nervous system. Dioxins from the pulp and paper bleaching
process can cause genetic chromosomal problems in marine animals and may even cause
cancer in humans. PCB's (polychlorinated biphenyls) typically cause reproduction problems
in most marine organisms. PCB's usually come from older electrical equipment.

Poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH's) are another source of marine toxic pollution and
typically come from oil pollution and burning wood and coal. These PAH s are responsible
for causing genetic chromosomal aberrations in many marine animals. Lastly, low-level
radiation poisoning is also possible in the ocean environment. Though scientists know very
little about how radiation affects marine organisms, it cannot be a good thing anyway. Some
marine species such as a population of Beluga whales living in the St. Lawrence River area in
Eastern Canada are in serious trouble because of marine toxic pollution. These Beluga whales
are the victims of ocean pollution ranging from PCB's to heavy metals as well as other
pollutants. However toxic pollution is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of total ocean
pollution.

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 4
The toxic pollution varies from PAH's (Poly Aromatic Hydrocarbons), heavy metal pollution
from industrial effluent and fallout, PCB pollution (polychlorinated biphenyls) and even
possible low level radiation. No matter what we humans do, there is potential for serious
pollution of the oceans.

Marine Garbage

Marine garbage disposal is another major form of ocean pollution. The world's oceans are a
virtual dumping ground for trash. Sometimes the garbage includes junked out fishing nets,
plastics, general household garbage and even like bulbs. In one case an island 300 miles from
the nearest inhabited island (and 3000+ miles from the nearest continent) had 950 pieces of
garbage ranging from plastics to tin cans.

Garbage in the oceans is a serious issue as fish entangle themselves in fishing nets and
animals sometimes eat trash products and die. There are numerous examples of dolphins,
sharks and whales entangling themselves in fishing nets and dying from oxygen starvation. It
is possible to clean garbage from the oceans if humanity quits using it as a garbage dump.
Marine garbage can often enter into animal gut; plastic pop tab rings accidentally strangle
animals and so forth. Controlling this form of pollution is important to maintain a healthy
ocean ecosystem.

Even simple plastic bags can have large pollutive impacts within the ocean. In one case a
deceased sperm whale was found to have a party balloon blocking its digestive system. The
whale died from inability to process its food and died of starvation. Plastics can also have
negative impacts to boats if they accidentally plug water intake lines.

Sewage Disposal in Ocean

Sewage is yet another major source of marine pollution. Typically the problem with sewage is
that it causes massive nutrient loading in the ocean ecosystem. Nutrient loading triggers algal
blooms in the water leading to the loss of dissolved oxygen. After the depletion of oxygen
levels, many organisms in the ocean die from being unable to breathe properly. Other
problems associated with sewage include parasites/bacteria that force closure of public coastal
beaches and poisoning of shellfish fisheries. For the most part, cities in the developed world
have sewage treatment facilities but many of the cities in poorer areas have little to no sewage
treatment. As the world population continues to increase, sewage pollution will be on the
rise..

What we often do not realize is that the waste water out of washing our clothes, faces, dishes
and cattle, is ultimately headed to the sea. This includes everything from our homes (toilets,
washing machines, bathtubs, dishwashers and so forth), industrial effluents and even
chemicals such as paints and fertilizers that we dispose of down the drains. Eventually all of
this sewage pollution adds up and we land in serious problems due to lack of oxygen for
organisms and poisoned water.

Non-Point Pollutants

The last major source of ocean pollutant is non-point; Non-point pollution can come from
amazingly varying sources, viz., runoff from farmland (fertilizers manure), industrial runoff
(heavy metals, phosphorous), urban runoff (oils, salts, various chemicals) and atmospheric
fallout of airborne pollution. Obviously it is the hardest to control. Point pollution, in contrast,
is pollution from a direct source like a factory outfall pipe.

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 5
The enrichment of water by nutrients especially compounds of nitrogen and phosphorus
causing an accelerated growth of algae and higher forms of plant life to produce an
undesirable disturbance to the balance of organisms and the quality of the water
(Eutrophication). Input of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the sea is a natural
prerequisite for life, not an environmental problem. It becomes a problem only when the input
increases to such levels that the original properties or functions of the ecosystem change.
Then it becomes too much of a good thing. When this manifests in a marine waters or a lake,
it is referred to as eutrophication - a concept covering a series of events in the aquatic
environment. Input of too large amounts of nutrients, followed by other events and effects is
ominous and results in higher levels of nutrients in the water. Physical, chemical and
biological changes that follow tends to reflect in the fauna and flora, oxygen conditions
change and other changes in the water mass, in the sediments and on the surface of the
bottoms.

Pollution of coastal waters: Kerala under microscope

The coastal waters of the maritime states are under the constant threat of pollution from a
number of sources. The relatively long shoreline of India (6000 Km) is no exception either.
More so is the case of Kerala. Compared to the rest of the union, profile of Kerala s coastal
waters may be better; still a lot remains to be achieved. The tropicality of the region and
consequent intense rain fall in the hinterland, along with the Physiography has immensely
contributed to the quality of coastal waters.

The agrarian nature of land use itself has become a bane to the coastal water bodies of the
state in the midland as well as in the lagoons in coastal land. Fertilizer residue originating
from the tea, cardamom, and rubber plantations of the highland and midland are finally
headed to the coastal waters of the ocean. But, the brunt is borne by the waters in the lagoons,
ponds and other inland water bodies. The intracostal water way is no exception either.
Obviously, the fertilizer residue did lead to the eutrophication of the coastal waters, and adds
to the reservoir of the chemicals that already exists in the sea.

Luckily, the amphibious plant species that characterizes the fresh water bodies and led to their
eutrophication, do not survive in the marine environment. However, if not checked, we may
reach a situation like in the mouth of Mississippi R., where a 60 mile wide algal belt has
reportedly come to stay. The sheer size of the coastal waters is an insurance against the
pollutants, like the fertilizer residues, yet could not influence the sea water chemistry to any
great extent.

But exceptions do exist. Trivandrum Titanium Products directly dumps the untreated Fe-
sulphate laden effluent directly across the shore into the coastal waters, literally creating an
eye sore and injecting a poison to fish and other forms of life in the waters of the region.
Unfortunately, for very flimsy reasons, this point source polluter escaped all objections (even
by the PCB of the state). We may as well call this industry as a rogue industry which
continues to create problems.

The coastal waters off Calicut receive the discharges from the Chaliyar River shows
occasional decrease in dissolved oxygen and increase in nutrients indicating increase in the
anthropogenic activities in the river basin. Such low values are mostly observed during the
dry seasons and have not resulted in phenomenal proliferation of pathogenic bacteria. The
water quality is not a matter of concern at present.

Kochi backwaters receive an enormous quantity of sewage from this large township. Several
industries located upstream and the Harbour activities contribute to the spoiling of water
quality and level of pollution. Back Waters of Kochi and the adjacent near shore waters reveal

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 6
the presence in the surface layer of substantially high levels of phosphate and ammonia,
though not in toxic form, during low tide indicating riverine influence. The dissolved oxygen
remains saturated which implies that most of the heavy organic load is effectively assimilated
resulting in low values of BOD. However, the dynamic nature of the estuary and the
circulation pattern of water during tidal regimes, have kept the productivity level of the
estuary at a fairly higher level.

High levels of cadmium and lead were observed in the sediments collected at the mouth of the
Kochi backwaters and it has been reported that concentration of these metals has been
gradually on the rise recently. Progressive decrease in the level of oxygen has been observed
in the coastal waters off Alleppey, Kayamkulam, Quilon, Paravur and Veli along the Kerala
coast.

Where do we go from here?

Industrial pollution is not as bad as it used to be in the developed world as new techniques
and better waste and effluent treatment are put in place. New laws and regulations make it
difficult for people to dump their trash into the oceans though inevitably some dumping will
always occur. One idea is to promote community beach-cleaning events where in everybody
volunteers in to pick trash off the beaches. By cleaning up the trash on beaches we lessen the
potential chances of accidental animal kills and to afford better and cleaner looks for beaches.

Reduction of sewage is possible through the installation of better sewage treatment facilities
and by adoption of volume reduction technologies for the world's cities. Developed countries
like Canada and the United States as well as Western Europe should assist the poorer
countries in installing sewage treatment facilities. Reducing harmful sewage discharges would
be a major start in helping to clean the oceans of pollution. Many areas of the world have
reduced non-point pollution through proper recycling facilities for used oil and paint products.
In the past, people simply dumped used oils and paints into the sewer system where they
would do serious damage to the water. Pollution will still occur but with effort and
determination it is possible to reduce its impact on the oceans.

BOOK REVIEW

Advances in Marine and Antarctic Science / edited by Dinabandhu Sahoo and

Prem Chand Pandey. New Delhi, A.P.H., 2002.

This volume contains 22 chapters in two sections contributed by 46 well known authors in
their respective field of specialization. The marine science section covers different aspects of
oceanography, which includes satellite oceanography, marine biodiversity, ecology and
conservation strategies, ocean policy and management as well as resource utilization; whereas
the Antarctic science section deals with ozone hole, geomagnetism, geology, biology, human
physiology and polar environment. The book will be useful to students, teachers, researchers,
oceanographers and others interested in the field of Marine and Antarctic Science.

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 7
What is coral bleaching?

Coral reef bleaching, the whitening of diverse invertebrate taxa, results from
the loss of symbiotic zooxantheallae and/or a reduction in photosynthetic pigment
concentrations in zooxantheallae residing within scleractinian corals. Coral reef
bleaching is caused by various anthropogenic and natural variations in the reef
environment including sea temperature, solar irradiance, sedimentation, xenobiotics,
subaerial exposure, inorganic nutrients, freshwater dilution, and epizootics. Global
climate change may play a role in the increase in coral bleaching events, and could
cause the destruction of major reef tracts and the extinction of many coral species.

The dinoflagellate algae provide the coral with energy and nutrients from
their photosynthetic processes. The animal host is supplied inorganic nutrients such
as ammonia and phosphate from their waste metabolism. These compounds are in
short supply in the nutrient-impoverished waters of coral reefs. Coral bleaching leads
to mortality if the stress is prolonged or intense. In 1998, an estimated 16% of the
world s reef building corals died due to bleaching. (IOC annual report (8), 2001).

NEWS BRIEFS

NZ Marine Reserve Safeguards Southern Islands (ENS January 27, 2003)

WELLINGTON, New Zealand, The Auckland Islands Marine Reserve is closer to becoming
a reality now that the application of a New Zealand government agency for this protected
status has been approved. The Aucklands are subantarctic islands south of New Zealand that
offer a haven for marine mammals and sea birds.

Shark Populations Plunge in North Atlantic (ENS January 29, 2003)

WASHINGTON, DC- Shark populations in the north Atlantic have plummeted by more than
half since 1986, shows a new study by researchers in Canada. The decline, blamed largely on
overfishing, has affected top predators including the great white and hammerhead sharks,
impacting marine food chains in ways that are still being studied, the researchers said.

Florida Corals Designated as Sensitive Sea Area (ENS, November 13,

2002)

WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. is designating new protections for more than 3,000 square
nautical miles around the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary to help safeguard the
region's sensitive and vulnerable coral reefs. The measure, the first in U.S. waters and only
the fifth worldwide, is intended to reduce the threat of large foreign flagged ships damaging
coral reefs, sea grass meadows and mangrove forests in the area.

Marine Reserve Networks Key to Protecting Oceans (ENS, January 14,

2003)

PALO ALTO, California - Integrated networks of marine reserves offer the best formula for
protecting and preserving marine resources, according to a new report released today by the
Pew Oceans Commission. Marine reserves are areas in which no extractive use of any living
creature, fossil, or mineral resource, nor any habitat destruction, is allowed.

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 8
Australia Launches Study of Sharks, Rays, Sawfish (ENS, February 17,
2003)

SYDNEY, Australia, - Federal and state marine research agencies and the fishing industry
have joined in a three year study aimed at ensuring the sustainability of shark, ray and sawfish
species in the waters off northern Australia.

Marine Experts Unveil Secrets of Coastal Conservation (ENS, February

17, 2003)

WASHINGTON, DC - New findings about the dynamics of coastal ocean ecosystems are
prompting marine scientists to abandon long held assumptions about life in the sea and how
best to protect it. Working along coasts from California to the Caribbean, researchers say they
have cracked the "black box" of coastal ecosystems, revealing the inner workings of the near
shore marine environment.

Ocean energy conversion plant to be deployed by March (The Hindu,

Aug 24, 2002).

CHENNAI - The one-MW Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant being
established by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), off the Tuticorin coast,
will be deployed by the end of the current fiscal. The floating plant, first of its kind in the
world, is a technology demonstration project to convert thermal energy in ocean into
electricity, using the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep-sea
water.

Nutrient uptake in corals (The Hindu, February 26, 2003)

Ever since Charles Darwin described coral reefs as oases in the desert of the ocean; scientists
have been by a peculiar irony. Coral reefs are among the richest ecosystems on the planet, yet
they grow in crystal-clear waters that contain hardly any nutrients. Now a team of Australian
and American coral experts say they have solved this enigma, which has come to be known as
Darwin s paradox .

Recently held Seminars / symposia / workshops

1. National Symposium on Algae and Environment: 13 15 February 2003. Organized

by Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom,
Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, Kerala. Contact: Prof. V. Shoba, Convenor,
Department Environmental Sciences, University of Kerala, Kariavattom,
Thiruvananthapuram.

2. Workshop on Environmental Law: February 18th, 2003. Organized by The Energy

and Environment Conservation Club (EECC), Department of Environmental
Education Centre. Venue: Department of Environmental Sciences, University of
Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581, Kerala.

NEWS FLASH

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 9
Thousands of endangered Olive Ridley
turtles found dead off India's east coast
BHUBANESHWAR, India Almost 3,000 endangered Olive Ridley turtles have
been found floating dead off India's east coast since November, killed by fishing
trawlers at the start of the nesting season, environmentalists said Wednesday.

There was no mass nesting of the endangered turtles off the coast of Orissa state
last year because 16,000 of them were killed, and it's feared the nesting will fail
again this year because of the illegal activity of fishing trawlers, the activists say.

"The blue-green waters of the Orissa coast are once again dotted with the dead
bodies of thousands of Olive Ridleys, thanks to illegal operation by hundreds of
mechanized fishing boats," said Biswajit Mohanty, secretary of the private Wildlife
Society of Orissa.

He said nearly 3,000 turtles had already been killed since the turtles began
swimming toward the shore in November at the start of their nesting season.
Most were killed after becoming caught in the trawlers' nets.

Around 100,000 turtles have been killed during the past decade, the Wildlife
Society says. Twelve trawlers were fishing on Dec. 31 within two kilometers (1.2
miles) of the coast and none had a mandatory device that enables the turtles to
escape the trawler nets, Mohanty said.

The devices are like trap doors fitted on the top of the trawling net. If a turtle is
caught, a hole opens and the turtle gets out without drowning and without
damaging the net. Mohanty's group blames the state government for not making
enough patrols to enforce the law that bans fishing within 10 kilometers (six
miles) of the coast during nesting season. Trawlers operating further out are
required to have the turtle escape devices.

The 480-kilometer (300-mile) Orissa coast has many turtle nesting grounds,
including the largest in the world for the Olive Ridley. Like tigers and elephants,
Olive Ridley sea turtles are protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act.
Trapping or killing them is punishable by a jail term of up to six years.

Mohanty said there were few turtle deaths in November, but a sharp rise in
December and in the first week of January as the animals congregated near the
shore before heading to their nesting grounds.

The Olive Ridley turtle was listed as an endangered species in 1978 and while the
current population of the turtles is unknown, their numbers are decreasing.

Source: ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS NETWORK, January 9, 2003

Some recent publications in journals related to marine ecosystem.

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 10
Kalikhman, I; Y. Z. Yacobi and M. Gophen. 2003. Distribution fields for aquatic ecosystem
components: method of optimization of correlation zones. ICES J Mar. Sci., 60(1): 1-10.

Antonio Bode; Pablo Carrera and Santiago Lens. 2003. The pelagic foodweb in the upwelling
ecosystem of Galicia (NW Spain) during spring: natural abundance of stable carbon and
nitrogen isotopes. ICES J Mar. Sci., 60(1): 11-22.

John S. Gray. 2003. Bio-magnification in marine systems: the perspective of an ecologist.

Mar. Pol. Bull., 45 (1-12): 46-52.

Silke Kröger; Sergey Piletsky and Anthony P. F. Turner. 2003. Biosensors for marine
pollution research, monitoring and control. Mar. Pol. Bull., 45 (1-12): 24-34.

Keith Suderman and David Thistle. 2002. Spills of fuel oil #6 and Orimulsion can have
indistinguishable effects on the benthic meiofauna. Mar. Pol. Bull., 45 (1-12): 49-55.

Praxedes N. Muñoz and Marco A. Salamanca. 2003. Input of atmospheric lead to marine
sediments in a south-east Pacific coastal area (~36°S). Mar. Environ. Res., 55 (4): 335-357.

Ed Parnell, P. 2003. The effects of sewage discharge on water quality and phytoplankton of
Hawaiian coastal waters. Mar. Environ. Res., 55 (4): 293-311.

Donald J. Morrisey; Stephanie J. Turner; Geoffrey N. Mills; R. Bruce Williamson and Bridget
E. Wise. 2003. Factors affecting the distribution of benthic macrofauna in estuaries
contaminated by urban runoff . Mar. Environ. Res., 55 (2): 113-136.

Fabienne Marret and James Scourse. 2003. Control of modern dinoflagellate cyst distribution
in the Irish and Celtic seas by seasonal stratification dynamics. Marine Micropaleontology, 47
(1-2): 110-116.

Baoqi Huang; Zhimin Jian; Xinrong Cheng and Pinxian Wang. 2003. Foraminiferal responses
to upwelling variations in the South China Sea over the last 220000 years. Marine
Micropaleontology, 47 (1-2): 1-15.

Raffaella Bucefalo Palliani; Emanuela Mattioli and James B. Riding. 2002. The response of
marine phytoplankton and sedimentary organic matter to the early Toarcian (Lower Jurassic)
oceanic anoxic event in northern England. Marine Micropaleontology, 46 (3-4): 223-245

Serena Fonda Umani and Alfred Beran. 2003. Seasonal variations in the dynamics of
microbial plankton communities: first estimates from experiments in the Gulf of Trieste,
Northern Adriatic Sea. MEPS, 247:1-16

Aina Carbonell; Miquel Palmer; Pere Abelló; Pedro Torres; R. Alemany and Luis Gil de Sola.
2003. Mesoscale geographical patterns in the distribution of pandalid shrimps Plesionika spp.
in the Western Mediterranean. MEPS 247:151-158

Stephen M. Chiswell; John Wilkin; John D. Booth and Basil Stanton. 2003. Trans-Tasman
Sea larval transport: Is Australia a source for New Zealand rock lobsters? MEPS 247:173-182.

Charles A. Gray and Michael J. Kingsford. 2003. Variability in thermocline depth and
strength, and relationships with vertical distributions of fish larvae and mesozooplankton in
dynamic coastal waters. MEPS 247:211-224.

EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 11
Vanderklift M. A. and C. A. Jacoby. 2003. Patterns in fish assemblages 25 years after major
seagrass loss. MEPS 247:225-235

Cathy Debier; Paddy P. Pomeroy; Cédric Dupont; Claude Joiris; Vinciane Comblin; Eric Le
Boulengé; Yvan Larondelle and Jean-Pierre Thomé. 2003. Dynamics of PCB transfer from
mother to pup during lactation in UK grey seals Halichoerus grypus: differences in PCB
profile between compartments of transfer and changes during the lactation period. MEPS
247:249-256.

Patricia E. Rosel; Alexandros Frantzis; Christina Lockyer and Anastasia Komnenou. 2003.
Source of Aegean Sea Harbour porpoises. MEPS 247:257-261.

François Gévaert; Anne Créach; Dominique Davoult; Aline Migné; Guy Levavasseur; Pierre
Arzel; Anne-Catherine Holl and Yves Lemoine. 2003. Laminaria saccharina photosynthesis
measured in situ: photo-inhibition and xanthophyll cycle during a tidal cycle. MEPS 247:43-
50.

Jennifer Hauxwell; Just Cebrián and Ivan Valiela. 2003. Eelgrass Zostera marina loss in
temperate estuaries: relationship to land-derived nitrogen loads and effect of light limitation
imposed by algae. MEPS 247:59-73.

Vermeij M. J. A; E. Sampayo; K. Bröker and R. P. M. Bak. 2003. Variation in planulae

release of closely related coral species. MEPS 247:75-84.

Contact
Prof. Thrivikramji, K.P.
Department of Geology
University of Kerala
Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram 695 581
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EMCB-ENVIS Node on Marine Ecosystem Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom 695 581, INDIA 12