Videos by Jisha Elizabeth
Today, I was very happy to see the plant that is the main source of Ramer Pillai biofuel. Here is... more Today, I was very happy to see the plant that is the main source of Ramer Pillai biofuel. Here is Avicennia, a mangrove I spotted in Tamilnadu. According to the fishers, this is the exact 'secret herb' in Ramer biofuel. The fishers have known this secret for years. It is called Keeri chedi in Tamil. Even the green leaves of this plant burn.
This plant prevents soil erosion too. Today, I spotted this plant on a forest reserve island at Dhanushkodi of Tamilnadu.
Ramer Pillai claimed in 1996 that he had invented an entirely herbal fuel that did not use petrochemicals. His special blend of secret herbs, along with some common ingredients such as salt and citric acid, produced fuel-like substances when boiled. In 2006, he was sentenced to undergo three years of rigorous imprisonment by a court for cheating the public.
Insightful solo travel for Earth Journalism Network story grant!
@Madhyamam Papers by Jisha Elizabeth
Madhyamam, 2021
There have been 15 ship accidents on the coast of Kerala in the South Western Indian state since ... more There have been 15 ship accidents on the coast of Kerala in the South Western Indian state since 2017. Accidents involving huge ships and fishing vessels have killed many fishermen. Kerala's coastal shipping lane, unilaterally introduced by the central government, is literally a death trap for its fishing community.
Madhyamam, 2019
2019 Sep 15
Madhyamam, 2019
This Investigation published in Madhyamam News paper from 2019 Aug 24- 27
Several fishermen had ... more This Investigation published in Madhyamam News paper from 2019 Aug 24- 27
Several fishermen had lost their lives at the 'MuthalaPozhi' estuary in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, South India. The corpses of most of those who lost their lives here were faceless when retrieved. The relatives were shocked to see the dead bodies with mutilated skull and torn faces. The unscientific construction of the two 'Pulimuttu' (Breakwater) built for the MuthalaPozhi harbour had resulted in 45 accidental deaths here. The people started agitations when the large waves arising from the narrow passage between the breakwaters toppled the boats and they collapsed against the large rocks piled up in the sea-bed. Finally, Adani entered the fray with a promise to 'make good everything'. And was there any positive outcome?
Media person Jisha Elizabeth probes into the present happenings in the area.
People's Archive of Rural India, 2018
Madhyamam News Daily, 2021
37 years ago, on a rainy night, 18-year-old Joy Alukkus from Poonthura, a small coastal village i... more 37 years ago, on a rainy night, 18-year-old Joy Alukkus from Poonthura, a small coastal village in Thiruvananthapuram, set sail into the sea along with older fishermen. The flickering wick of the small kerosene lamp was the only source of light on that boat. It was so dark that people sitting on either sides of the boat couldn't see each other. Those on board felt like being entrapped in the midst of wind and dampness.
Madhyamam News Daily, 2021
The Thiruvananthapuram coastline, including Vizhinjam and Shanghumugham are facing devastation. U... more The Thiruvananthapuram coastline, including Vizhinjam and Shanghumugham are facing devastation. Unscientific constructions have changed the tidal course. Deaths and destruction keep rising. What happened in Vizhinjam and other places? What's the solution?
Adaniwatch, 2020
In the southwestern Indian state of Kerala, an Adani company is constructing a massive port in th... more In the southwestern Indian state of Kerala, an Adani company is constructing a massive port in the midst of shing villages, beaches and tourist resorts. The company's deep-water Vizhinjam transshipment port has attracted headlines for all the wrong reasons-delays, coastal erosion, public subsidies and damage to sheries. Since 30 September 2020, a group of determined sherfolk has tackled Adani, blocking roads into the construction site with their boats. These sherfolk are a pillar of the local community, having undertaken countless dangerous rescue missions in 2018 when huge oods devastated the local area. Now they are attempting to rescue their own livelihoods. For several months, Jisha Elizabeth has been attending protest meetings and events. She now reports for AdaniWatch on the current situation at Vizhinjam. When the oods of 2018 devastated Kerala, a group of daring shermen did the unthinkable. Navigating their shing boats like an armada through the deluge, they saved numerous lives and property, like trained rescue personnel. Their sel ess service earned the praise and gratitude of the government and people alike. These brave sons of the sea were hailed as Kerala's Army by the state government. Now, this army, based on the southern tip of India, is on a war footing against the Adani Group, the business conglomerate that enjoys the patronage of the state and central governments. The shermen are ghting to protect the marine ecosystem, their livelihood and their lives, which they say are being destroyed by the Vizhinjam deep-sea port construction undertaken by Adani. According to many reports, the Adani Group enjoys the direct and indirect support of the Modi government and its bureaucracy. Even though the opposition is rich and powerful, the children of the sea have vowed to stand strong and ght this battle for survival.
https://youtu.be/CjYZzMV8Cwo
#Traditional #Lobster_Trap #Kerala #Fisher #Skill #Invention
Madhyamam, 2019
Coral reefs of Vizhinjam sea at the verge of destruction
The recent discovery of coral bleaching... more Coral reefs of Vizhinjam sea at the verge of destruction
The recent discovery of coral bleaching in the Kerala coast compounds the concern about the destruction of marine ecosystem. The disturbing visuals of bleaching were captured from Vizhinjam sea by citizen scientist divers and comes in the wake of heightened global action for coral protection. Despite repeated warnings about the health of the corals in the state, it is worrying that there no scientific study is being conducted locally. Continuing apathy would lead to irreversible environmental impacts that will destroy several marine species, lead to aggressive beach erosion and raise the overall temperature of the sea.
Thiruvananthapuram/Kerala :As the Vizhinjam International Deepwater seaport project in Thiruvananthapuram is progressing, the coral reefs nearby are at the verge of destruction. Evidence, including photographs, reveal that they are in different stages of bleaching. This phenomenon will adversely affect a wide variety of ornamental fishes and lead to detrimental environmental issues like ocean warming and rampant beach erosion.
Coral bleaching at Vizhinjam was discovered during an investigation for Earth Journalism Fellowship. Bleaching was found in Goniastrea species that form the base of the coral reef colonies. Scuba divers who are also Citizen Scientists, have photographed the phemenonfrom the sea in between the Vizhinjamseaport project region and the Vizhinjamharbour.
Reasons galore
Bleaching can be caused by global warming, ocean warming, cold water, ocean acidification, and carbon emissionas well as increase in nutrients. Daniela Ceccarelli, Australian Marine ecology consultant clarified that coral reefs can be destroyed due to floods and cyclones. The Kerala floodsin 2018 and the cyclones like Gaja 2018, Fani 2019, Ockhi2017 too might have caused the bleaching, she opined.
This situation can also be a result of heavy sedimentation, explained Professor Morgan Pratchett from James Cook University ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australia.''There is a definite possibility that localised bleaching is caused by deposition of sediment nearby, but it might also be related to extreme environmental conditions. There is no doubt that excess ¬¬sediment makes corals less resilient and more susceptible to extrinsic stressors. Most importantly, high levels of suspended sediment reduce the amount of sunlight required for corals to photosynthesize and derive energy,” he says.
Robert Panippilla and Aneesha Ani Benedict, scuba divers and administrators of the Ocean Literacy Programme Organization (Friends of Marine Life) based at Valiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram took videos from this approach channel.The two Australian scientists who had analyzed the video clarified that the actual impact can only be identified if studies are carried out before and after the port construction and natural calamities. They called for continuous evaluation. However, when enquired, it was revealed that necessary studies on the coral reefs of the region were not carried out before or after the dredging.
Even the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on Vizhinjam seaport only mentions the studies conducted years back by the scientists from the government agencies who envisaged to study about the sea, identify issues and suggest solutions. The Environmental Impact Report submitted together by L&T and Rambøll Consulting Engineers Limited for the Vizhinjam seaport contains the studies published in 2009 by Dr Jasmine, Principal Scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), who continuously conducts research on hard corals. According to her research, Vizhinjam area has nine types of coral reefs and they are scattered in different areas. She added that there are some patchy reefs.
Coral reefs the abode of piscine community
In the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Vizhinjam seaport project, an annexure prepared by the Aquatic and Fisheries Department of Kerala University listed 69 ornamental fish species that reside in the coral reefs of Vizhinjam shore. When coral bleaching occurs the existence of creatures residing in its vicinity including ornamental fishes are threatened, says Pratchett.
“Ornamental fishes are negatively affected by increased suspended sediment. The key finding was that fishes exposed to elevated sediment levels had reduced capacity to obtain oxygen due to inflamed gill filaments. The link between the dredging and sediment deposition would certainly be more apparent if there was a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) being conducted and I would’ve thought it necessary to have done this given the vulnerability and loss of coral reef environments worldwide,” he says.
''However, it is also not too late for local scientists to start assessing the impact and collect all the necessary environmental conditions to rule out whether the bleaching was simply coincidental and caused by changing environmental conditions or directly attributable to elevated levels of suspended sediment or sediment settling on the corals themselves,” he says.
Disastrous developments
The health of the patchy reefs at Vizhinjam was already being threatened by the dredging activities done for the seaport project as well was the increased dumping of plastic waste into the sea. Fishermen say that when dredging was carried out in the sea for the Vizhinjam project, soil from the nearby Vizhinjam harbour was drained and deposited at the approach channel in between the two breakwaters. This has led to heavy losses regularly due to capsizing of boats. They testify that due to the dredging and increased draining of sand, silt is being deposited at the sea in Vizhinjam.
Dr A Biju Kumar, Dean and Head of Aquatic and Fisheries Department of Kerala University Thiruvananthapuram says that the coral bleaching found in Vizhinjam might be part of the coral bleaching happening across the co¬¬untry. ‘’During last summer, the rate of coral bleaching increased across the country due to ocean warming. Coral bleaching was discovered in Vizhinjam for the first time. The rate of sedimentation is increasing due to the port project. Studies have been conducted years ago that patchy coral is present in the Vizhinjam offshore. After that there were no further studies,’’he says.
Dumping of plastic waste in sea, directly and indirectly, has been impacting marine life and coral health for years now. There are lot of ghost nets too. Plastic waste is getting piled up in Vizhinjam due to steep rockyreefs and deep terrain. During the sea turbulence in June 2019, due to heavy rains, five tonnes of plastic waste was deposited back from the sea at the Kovalam beach in two days. As per the audit conducted by the FML workers, it was understood that 90 percentage of this consisted of plastic, nylon, PVC, rubber, polyester, leather and thermocol. The rest comprised of iron, tin, wood and the like.
Act now to save the reefs
While majority of the scientific community has rung alarm bells, a few are of the opinion that bleaching is reversible. Dr. Benno Perera, a marine scientist and academician at Kochi claims that the corals are recovery.
''These types of Goniastrea corals are also found on the Great Barrier Reef, and they do quite well in poor water quality conditions (high-nutrient, high-sediment). They're tough, as far as corals go, and when they bleach, they can often recover once conditions return to normal,'' says Daniela Ceccarelli.
This ‘return to normalcy’ is the key word phrase here. The coral reefs, for its growth, need permanently saline pristine waterwith the availability of ample sunlight and 20-30 degree of temperature, Perera says. “Generally during monsoon season, lot of river water flows in, which lowers the salinity of the sea water and increases the coldness. This is the reason behind scanty coral reef growth in the coastal regions of Kerala in comparison with other countries,” he explains.
We must act fast to reinstate normalcy. First and foremost, dumping plastic waste must be curtailed on a war footing. Breaking corals from reefs is illegal now and the public must refrain from buying them as curios from vendors at beaches. The report filed by the environmental commission set up by the state government after the 2018 floods have pointed out the need for more research on coral reefs. They have also proposed an environment policy that will educate children about the need to conserve nature and marine ecosystems like coral reefs to prevent devastating climate changes.
photos: 1 bleaching Goniastrea coral, captured ¬¬ from vizhinjam harbour mouth, Thiruvanathapuram, India -Photo by FML
Ms. Aneesha Ani Benedict and Mr. Robert Panippillai
Madhyamam, 2017
The life story of a group of Indian fishermen who set to sea in search of Tuna. They travelled to... more The life story of a group of Indian fishermen who set to sea in search of Tuna. They travelled to the coral island- Diego Garcia. There they were captured and jailed. This is story of the return of those who thought they could never come back. Its Easter! And What they have faced in their birth land, That was so pathetic!
Madhyamam, 2019
The weather and environment have changed drastically after the Vizhinjam International deep water... more The weather and environment have changed drastically after the Vizhinjam International deep water Multipurpose Seaport construction began. The fishermen have lost their sense of safety. The direction of the waves has shifted. The journalist has exposed the severe problems faced by the sea and the coast.
Madhyamam News Daily, 2019
Construction of the Vizhinjam International Multipurpose Deep-Sea Port is progressing. Overcoming... more Construction of the Vizhinjam International Multipurpose Deep-Sea Port is progressing. Overcoming objections, the government’s special purpose company, Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL), signed a contract with Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited for the Rs7,525 core-project on 17 Aug 2015. Four years later, Jisha Elizabeth, a journalist at Madhyamam, visited the area to investigate the environmental problems in the Vizhinjam Port region and the resultant disasters traditional mussel collectors are facing.
You can read another piece on the same theme here: https://earthjournalism.net/stories/the-tragedy-looming-over-keralas-mussel-fishers
Madhyamam News daily, 2017
The anxieties of the environmentalists and fishing labourers upon the Vizhinjam project are dawni... more The anxieties of the environmentalists and fishing labourers upon the Vizhinjam project are dawning sensible each day. With the progress in the construction activities of the port, the news from the area is not good. The situation is that, by the time the 'proud' project of the government is realized, a group of people and the land will be eroded by the sea. A report through the Vizhinjam International multipurpose deepwater seaport project range Written by Jisha Elizabeth Photos : John Aloor A house at Vizhinjam port project area A lengthy crevice in the wall dragged my attention to that house. Seeing the camera, the homemaker standing in the courtyard stepped into the house and locked the door from inside. It was opened only after prolonged knocks. Our quest for some drinking water was met only after much moments of confusion. In between, a two year old girl came with big curious eyes. Has it cracked because of piling? I asked pointing to the wall. She sadly nodded yes and went inside with the girl. One could see fear in her eyes.
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Videos by Jisha Elizabeth
This plant prevents soil erosion too. Today, I spotted this plant on a forest reserve island at Dhanushkodi of Tamilnadu.
Ramer Pillai claimed in 1996 that he had invented an entirely herbal fuel that did not use petrochemicals. His special blend of secret herbs, along with some common ingredients such as salt and citric acid, produced fuel-like substances when boiled. In 2006, he was sentenced to undergo three years of rigorous imprisonment by a court for cheating the public.
Insightful solo travel for Earth Journalism Network story grant!
@Madhyamam
Papers by Jisha Elizabeth
https://english.madhyamam.com/opinion/deep-read/the-abundance-of-offshore-wind-energy-challenges-too-1111743
Several fishermen had lost their lives at the 'MuthalaPozhi' estuary in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, South India. The corpses of most of those who lost their lives here were faceless when retrieved. The relatives were shocked to see the dead bodies with mutilated skull and torn faces. The unscientific construction of the two 'Pulimuttu' (Breakwater) built for the MuthalaPozhi harbour had resulted in 45 accidental deaths here. The people started agitations when the large waves arising from the narrow passage between the breakwaters toppled the boats and they collapsed against the large rocks piled up in the sea-bed. Finally, Adani entered the fray with a promise to 'make good everything'. And was there any positive outcome?
Media person Jisha Elizabeth probes into the present happenings in the area.
link
https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/islands-of-hope-oceans-of-despair/
The recent discovery of coral bleaching in the Kerala coast compounds the concern about the destruction of marine ecosystem. The disturbing visuals of bleaching were captured from Vizhinjam sea by citizen scientist divers and comes in the wake of heightened global action for coral protection. Despite repeated warnings about the health of the corals in the state, it is worrying that there no scientific study is being conducted locally. Continuing apathy would lead to irreversible environmental impacts that will destroy several marine species, lead to aggressive beach erosion and raise the overall temperature of the sea.
Thiruvananthapuram/Kerala :As the Vizhinjam International Deepwater seaport project in Thiruvananthapuram is progressing, the coral reefs nearby are at the verge of destruction. Evidence, including photographs, reveal that they are in different stages of bleaching. This phenomenon will adversely affect a wide variety of ornamental fishes and lead to detrimental environmental issues like ocean warming and rampant beach erosion.
Coral bleaching at Vizhinjam was discovered during an investigation for Earth Journalism Fellowship. Bleaching was found in Goniastrea species that form the base of the coral reef colonies. Scuba divers who are also Citizen Scientists, have photographed the phemenonfrom the sea in between the Vizhinjamseaport project region and the Vizhinjamharbour.
Reasons galore
Bleaching can be caused by global warming, ocean warming, cold water, ocean acidification, and carbon emissionas well as increase in nutrients. Daniela Ceccarelli, Australian Marine ecology consultant clarified that coral reefs can be destroyed due to floods and cyclones. The Kerala floodsin 2018 and the cyclones like Gaja 2018, Fani 2019, Ockhi2017 too might have caused the bleaching, she opined.
This situation can also be a result of heavy sedimentation, explained Professor Morgan Pratchett from James Cook University ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australia.''There is a definite possibility that localised bleaching is caused by deposition of sediment nearby, but it might also be related to extreme environmental conditions. There is no doubt that excess ¬¬sediment makes corals less resilient and more susceptible to extrinsic stressors. Most importantly, high levels of suspended sediment reduce the amount of sunlight required for corals to photosynthesize and derive energy,” he says.
Robert Panippilla and Aneesha Ani Benedict, scuba divers and administrators of the Ocean Literacy Programme Organization (Friends of Marine Life) based at Valiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram took videos from this approach channel.The two Australian scientists who had analyzed the video clarified that the actual impact can only be identified if studies are carried out before and after the port construction and natural calamities. They called for continuous evaluation. However, when enquired, it was revealed that necessary studies on the coral reefs of the region were not carried out before or after the dredging.
Even the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on Vizhinjam seaport only mentions the studies conducted years back by the scientists from the government agencies who envisaged to study about the sea, identify issues and suggest solutions. The Environmental Impact Report submitted together by L&T and Rambøll Consulting Engineers Limited for the Vizhinjam seaport contains the studies published in 2009 by Dr Jasmine, Principal Scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), who continuously conducts research on hard corals. According to her research, Vizhinjam area has nine types of coral reefs and they are scattered in different areas. She added that there are some patchy reefs.
Coral reefs the abode of piscine community
In the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Vizhinjam seaport project, an annexure prepared by the Aquatic and Fisheries Department of Kerala University listed 69 ornamental fish species that reside in the coral reefs of Vizhinjam shore. When coral bleaching occurs the existence of creatures residing in its vicinity including ornamental fishes are threatened, says Pratchett.
“Ornamental fishes are negatively affected by increased suspended sediment. The key finding was that fishes exposed to elevated sediment levels had reduced capacity to obtain oxygen due to inflamed gill filaments. The link between the dredging and sediment deposition would certainly be more apparent if there was a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) being conducted and I would’ve thought it necessary to have done this given the vulnerability and loss of coral reef environments worldwide,” he says.
''However, it is also not too late for local scientists to start assessing the impact and collect all the necessary environmental conditions to rule out whether the bleaching was simply coincidental and caused by changing environmental conditions or directly attributable to elevated levels of suspended sediment or sediment settling on the corals themselves,” he says.
Disastrous developments
The health of the patchy reefs at Vizhinjam was already being threatened by the dredging activities done for the seaport project as well was the increased dumping of plastic waste into the sea. Fishermen say that when dredging was carried out in the sea for the Vizhinjam project, soil from the nearby Vizhinjam harbour was drained and deposited at the approach channel in between the two breakwaters. This has led to heavy losses regularly due to capsizing of boats. They testify that due to the dredging and increased draining of sand, silt is being deposited at the sea in Vizhinjam.
Dr A Biju Kumar, Dean and Head of Aquatic and Fisheries Department of Kerala University Thiruvananthapuram says that the coral bleaching found in Vizhinjam might be part of the coral bleaching happening across the co¬¬untry. ‘’During last summer, the rate of coral bleaching increased across the country due to ocean warming. Coral bleaching was discovered in Vizhinjam for the first time. The rate of sedimentation is increasing due to the port project. Studies have been conducted years ago that patchy coral is present in the Vizhinjam offshore. After that there were no further studies,’’he says.
Dumping of plastic waste in sea, directly and indirectly, has been impacting marine life and coral health for years now. There are lot of ghost nets too. Plastic waste is getting piled up in Vizhinjam due to steep rockyreefs and deep terrain. During the sea turbulence in June 2019, due to heavy rains, five tonnes of plastic waste was deposited back from the sea at the Kovalam beach in two days. As per the audit conducted by the FML workers, it was understood that 90 percentage of this consisted of plastic, nylon, PVC, rubber, polyester, leather and thermocol. The rest comprised of iron, tin, wood and the like.
Act now to save the reefs
While majority of the scientific community has rung alarm bells, a few are of the opinion that bleaching is reversible. Dr. Benno Perera, a marine scientist and academician at Kochi claims that the corals are recovery.
''These types of Goniastrea corals are also found on the Great Barrier Reef, and they do quite well in poor water quality conditions (high-nutrient, high-sediment). They're tough, as far as corals go, and when they bleach, they can often recover once conditions return to normal,'' says Daniela Ceccarelli.
This ‘return to normalcy’ is the key word phrase here. The coral reefs, for its growth, need permanently saline pristine waterwith the availability of ample sunlight and 20-30 degree of temperature, Perera says. “Generally during monsoon season, lot of river water flows in, which lowers the salinity of the sea water and increases the coldness. This is the reason behind scanty coral reef growth in the coastal regions of Kerala in comparison with other countries,” he explains.
We must act fast to reinstate normalcy. First and foremost, dumping plastic waste must be curtailed on a war footing. Breaking corals from reefs is illegal now and the public must refrain from buying them as curios from vendors at beaches. The report filed by the environmental commission set up by the state government after the 2018 floods have pointed out the need for more research on coral reefs. They have also proposed an environment policy that will educate children about the need to conserve nature and marine ecosystems like coral reefs to prevent devastating climate changes.
photos: 1 bleaching Goniastrea coral, captured ¬¬ from vizhinjam harbour mouth, Thiruvanathapuram, India -Photo by FML
Ms. Aneesha Ani Benedict and Mr. Robert Panippillai
You can read another piece on the same theme here: https://earthjournalism.net/stories/the-tragedy-looming-over-keralas-mussel-fishers
This plant prevents soil erosion too. Today, I spotted this plant on a forest reserve island at Dhanushkodi of Tamilnadu.
Ramer Pillai claimed in 1996 that he had invented an entirely herbal fuel that did not use petrochemicals. His special blend of secret herbs, along with some common ingredients such as salt and citric acid, produced fuel-like substances when boiled. In 2006, he was sentenced to undergo three years of rigorous imprisonment by a court for cheating the public.
Insightful solo travel for Earth Journalism Network story grant!
@Madhyamam
https://english.madhyamam.com/opinion/deep-read/the-abundance-of-offshore-wind-energy-challenges-too-1111743
Several fishermen had lost their lives at the 'MuthalaPozhi' estuary in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, South India. The corpses of most of those who lost their lives here were faceless when retrieved. The relatives were shocked to see the dead bodies with mutilated skull and torn faces. The unscientific construction of the two 'Pulimuttu' (Breakwater) built for the MuthalaPozhi harbour had resulted in 45 accidental deaths here. The people started agitations when the large waves arising from the narrow passage between the breakwaters toppled the boats and they collapsed against the large rocks piled up in the sea-bed. Finally, Adani entered the fray with a promise to 'make good everything'. And was there any positive outcome?
Media person Jisha Elizabeth probes into the present happenings in the area.
link
https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/islands-of-hope-oceans-of-despair/
The recent discovery of coral bleaching in the Kerala coast compounds the concern about the destruction of marine ecosystem. The disturbing visuals of bleaching were captured from Vizhinjam sea by citizen scientist divers and comes in the wake of heightened global action for coral protection. Despite repeated warnings about the health of the corals in the state, it is worrying that there no scientific study is being conducted locally. Continuing apathy would lead to irreversible environmental impacts that will destroy several marine species, lead to aggressive beach erosion and raise the overall temperature of the sea.
Thiruvananthapuram/Kerala :As the Vizhinjam International Deepwater seaport project in Thiruvananthapuram is progressing, the coral reefs nearby are at the verge of destruction. Evidence, including photographs, reveal that they are in different stages of bleaching. This phenomenon will adversely affect a wide variety of ornamental fishes and lead to detrimental environmental issues like ocean warming and rampant beach erosion.
Coral bleaching at Vizhinjam was discovered during an investigation for Earth Journalism Fellowship. Bleaching was found in Goniastrea species that form the base of the coral reef colonies. Scuba divers who are also Citizen Scientists, have photographed the phemenonfrom the sea in between the Vizhinjamseaport project region and the Vizhinjamharbour.
Reasons galore
Bleaching can be caused by global warming, ocean warming, cold water, ocean acidification, and carbon emissionas well as increase in nutrients. Daniela Ceccarelli, Australian Marine ecology consultant clarified that coral reefs can be destroyed due to floods and cyclones. The Kerala floodsin 2018 and the cyclones like Gaja 2018, Fani 2019, Ockhi2017 too might have caused the bleaching, she opined.
This situation can also be a result of heavy sedimentation, explained Professor Morgan Pratchett from James Cook University ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Australia.''There is a definite possibility that localised bleaching is caused by deposition of sediment nearby, but it might also be related to extreme environmental conditions. There is no doubt that excess ¬¬sediment makes corals less resilient and more susceptible to extrinsic stressors. Most importantly, high levels of suspended sediment reduce the amount of sunlight required for corals to photosynthesize and derive energy,” he says.
Robert Panippilla and Aneesha Ani Benedict, scuba divers and administrators of the Ocean Literacy Programme Organization (Friends of Marine Life) based at Valiyathura in Thiruvananthapuram took videos from this approach channel.The two Australian scientists who had analyzed the video clarified that the actual impact can only be identified if studies are carried out before and after the port construction and natural calamities. They called for continuous evaluation. However, when enquired, it was revealed that necessary studies on the coral reefs of the region were not carried out before or after the dredging.
Even the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on Vizhinjam seaport only mentions the studies conducted years back by the scientists from the government agencies who envisaged to study about the sea, identify issues and suggest solutions. The Environmental Impact Report submitted together by L&T and Rambøll Consulting Engineers Limited for the Vizhinjam seaport contains the studies published in 2009 by Dr Jasmine, Principal Scientist, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), who continuously conducts research on hard corals. According to her research, Vizhinjam area has nine types of coral reefs and they are scattered in different areas. She added that there are some patchy reefs.
Coral reefs the abode of piscine community
In the Environmental Impact Assessment Report for the Vizhinjam seaport project, an annexure prepared by the Aquatic and Fisheries Department of Kerala University listed 69 ornamental fish species that reside in the coral reefs of Vizhinjam shore. When coral bleaching occurs the existence of creatures residing in its vicinity including ornamental fishes are threatened, says Pratchett.
“Ornamental fishes are negatively affected by increased suspended sediment. The key finding was that fishes exposed to elevated sediment levels had reduced capacity to obtain oxygen due to inflamed gill filaments. The link between the dredging and sediment deposition would certainly be more apparent if there was a rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) being conducted and I would’ve thought it necessary to have done this given the vulnerability and loss of coral reef environments worldwide,” he says.
''However, it is also not too late for local scientists to start assessing the impact and collect all the necessary environmental conditions to rule out whether the bleaching was simply coincidental and caused by changing environmental conditions or directly attributable to elevated levels of suspended sediment or sediment settling on the corals themselves,” he says.
Disastrous developments
The health of the patchy reefs at Vizhinjam was already being threatened by the dredging activities done for the seaport project as well was the increased dumping of plastic waste into the sea. Fishermen say that when dredging was carried out in the sea for the Vizhinjam project, soil from the nearby Vizhinjam harbour was drained and deposited at the approach channel in between the two breakwaters. This has led to heavy losses regularly due to capsizing of boats. They testify that due to the dredging and increased draining of sand, silt is being deposited at the sea in Vizhinjam.
Dr A Biju Kumar, Dean and Head of Aquatic and Fisheries Department of Kerala University Thiruvananthapuram says that the coral bleaching found in Vizhinjam might be part of the coral bleaching happening across the co¬¬untry. ‘’During last summer, the rate of coral bleaching increased across the country due to ocean warming. Coral bleaching was discovered in Vizhinjam for the first time. The rate of sedimentation is increasing due to the port project. Studies have been conducted years ago that patchy coral is present in the Vizhinjam offshore. After that there were no further studies,’’he says.
Dumping of plastic waste in sea, directly and indirectly, has been impacting marine life and coral health for years now. There are lot of ghost nets too. Plastic waste is getting piled up in Vizhinjam due to steep rockyreefs and deep terrain. During the sea turbulence in June 2019, due to heavy rains, five tonnes of plastic waste was deposited back from the sea at the Kovalam beach in two days. As per the audit conducted by the FML workers, it was understood that 90 percentage of this consisted of plastic, nylon, PVC, rubber, polyester, leather and thermocol. The rest comprised of iron, tin, wood and the like.
Act now to save the reefs
While majority of the scientific community has rung alarm bells, a few are of the opinion that bleaching is reversible. Dr. Benno Perera, a marine scientist and academician at Kochi claims that the corals are recovery.
''These types of Goniastrea corals are also found on the Great Barrier Reef, and they do quite well in poor water quality conditions (high-nutrient, high-sediment). They're tough, as far as corals go, and when they bleach, they can often recover once conditions return to normal,'' says Daniela Ceccarelli.
This ‘return to normalcy’ is the key word phrase here. The coral reefs, for its growth, need permanently saline pristine waterwith the availability of ample sunlight and 20-30 degree of temperature, Perera says. “Generally during monsoon season, lot of river water flows in, which lowers the salinity of the sea water and increases the coldness. This is the reason behind scanty coral reef growth in the coastal regions of Kerala in comparison with other countries,” he explains.
We must act fast to reinstate normalcy. First and foremost, dumping plastic waste must be curtailed on a war footing. Breaking corals from reefs is illegal now and the public must refrain from buying them as curios from vendors at beaches. The report filed by the environmental commission set up by the state government after the 2018 floods have pointed out the need for more research on coral reefs. They have also proposed an environment policy that will educate children about the need to conserve nature and marine ecosystems like coral reefs to prevent devastating climate changes.
photos: 1 bleaching Goniastrea coral, captured ¬¬ from vizhinjam harbour mouth, Thiruvanathapuram, India -Photo by FML
Ms. Aneesha Ani Benedict and Mr. Robert Panippillai
You can read another piece on the same theme here: https://earthjournalism.net/stories/the-tragedy-looming-over-keralas-mussel-fishers