MARINE POACHING THREATENS GULF OF MANNAR

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*Marine poaching threatens ecosystem*

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Gilvester

 

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Sunday, December 4, 2005 (Keelakarai):

 

Indiscriminate poaching in the National Marine Park in the Gulf of Mannar is

threatening the survival of many endangered marine species.

 

In the latest instance customs officials in Tamil Nadu have seized several

thousands of Sea Cucumbers before they were smuggled to foreign countries.

 

Over five thousand semi-dried Sea Cucumbers were seized by at Keelakarai in

Ramananthapuram district twice in the recent past.

 

*Smuggling menace*

 

Customs officials say most of the smuggled marine life make their way out of

the country to feast the palates across Asia.

 

" In South Asian countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong,

Sea Cucumbers are used as a delicacy in soups. The Chinese are using it in

Chinese Traditional Medicine, " said C Dhanasekaran, Additional Commissioner

of Customs.

 

Possession and trading of these species is an offence under the Wildlife

Protection Act.

 

Still, smuggling of these marine species continues unchecked with the

connivance of the fishing community. But the community blames it on the

declining price for prawn.

 

" Whenever there is no work due to poor catch, people who go under water

looking for conches pick up these cucumbers as well. Every one of these

fetches an additional Rs 10, " said a fisherman.

 

*Serious implications*

 

While wildlife officials refrained from commenting, environmentalists say

there is lack of coordination between forest, customs and the police

departments.

 

They are worried that such large-scale exploitation will have serious

repercussions.

 

" Over exploitation will stop oxygenation of the sea floor resulting in

decline in fish population and ultimately will be detrimental to fishermen, "

said Dr P Palanikumar, Environmentalist.

 

The Gulf of Mannar National Marine Mark is being plundered the way tigers

were poached from Sariska.

 

The worry now is that this park too may become empty like Sariska unless

something concrete is done to check poaching of marine life.