the goan I network
PANAJI
“Corals and Crabs” jointly published by the Forest Department of Goa and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)-India, was released by the Chief Minister on Tuesday to commemorate World Environment Day at the Goa Science Centre.
“Corals and Crabs” is a display of the stunning marine biodiversity that Goa harbors in its coral reefs giving a glimpse into the lesser known reefs around Grande Island.
In a press statement issued by WWF, Dr Coralie D’Lima senior programme coordinator of marine conservation at WWF explained that limited accessibility to coral reefs meant that these ecosystems are lesser studied and therefore less understood.
“Corals and Crabs is a first step towards bridging this existing knowledge gap and bringing amazing marine species found in the reefs of Goa such as stingrays, lionfish, ghost pipefish, decorator crabs and a whole array of sea slugs to the forefront. The book is a quick introduction to marine life of Goa for students, tourists and locals, is also an induction into the world of marine conservation,” she said.
The book features over 30 stunning photographs of marine habitats and biodiversity, taken during WWF-India’s underwater surveys at dive sites around Grande Island in 2018, to assess the impact of diving on the reefs around the island. Increasing marine based tourism has made protection and monitoring of these habitats critical. Experiences such as scuba diving, snorkeling and dolphin watching, while an important source of revenue for the state and an enriching experience for tourists, tend to mount pressure on marine habitats and wildlife. Despite increasing tourist traffic at these sites, the survey revealed that the some coral species at Grande Island continue to thrive and host a variety of marine life.
While releasing the book, the CM said that it was wonderful to know that just outside Vasco, there was an island teeming with marine life. The event also saw a discussion on the importance of conserving Goa’s Marine Biodiversity by panelists Dr Aaron Lobo (independent consultant), Abhishek Jamalabad, (marine biologist with WWF-India), Puja Mitra (Founding Director, Terra Conscious), Venkatesh Charloo (Founder of Coastal Impact and owner of Barracuda diving), and Dr Sejal Worah (Programme Director with WWF-India). The panel was moderated by D’Lima.
The event also included a prize giving ceremony for winners of paintings, drawing and poetry, conducted by the Forest Department, all of which had environmental themes.
