The report says that even though it was manually removed from Krusadai island regularly, it regrew on live coral colonies. The Invasive Species Specialist Group of IUCN has described the Kappaphycus as “destructive invasive species and poses a serious danger to the coral reefs”. Scientists should identify and suggest the cultivation of native seaweed species, which will be beneficial for the fishermen as well as protect our ecosystem. CHENNAI: The rich coral reefs of Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park and the seagrass beds in Palk Bay, where India’s first Dugong Conservation Reserve came up recently, have come under increasing threat from exotic seaweed Kappaphycus alvarezii. Scientists should identify and suggest the cultivation of native seaweed species, which will be beneficial for the fishermen as well as protect our ecosystem.

Source: Indian Express October 02, 2022 23:05 UTC