GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS Islands around Gulf of Mannar

M. Anand & J. Anandan Regional Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute; Marine Fisheries - 623520, Ramnad District, . . . Island is a body of land smaller than a with mangroves and the southeastern part of the . continent and surrounded by watet. There are island is with liveconil reefs. Main inhabitants about 21 islands in Gulf ofMannar on the South of the island are Field rats, Birds, Moths, Beetles, eastern coast of extending from Garden lizards and the rarciHemichordate island on the north and Tuticorin representarive.Balanoglossus. SinGe the isllmd on the south between latitudeS' 50' -9' 15' N having many marine species of animal life, it is and longtitude 78' 13' - 79 '14' E. These islands called as "Marine Biologists' Paradise". and the sea around them upto 3.5 - 5 fathom . Fishehnen camp here for few days for fishiJtg ' depth, has been notified as a National Park under activities. the provisions of the Wild Life Protection Act 1972. Gulf of Mannar alongwith islands was Pullivasal Island deClared as the fust Marine Biosphere Reserve (GOMMBRE) in South east Asia. GOMMBRE Pullivasal island has an area of 29.95 was set 1,1p on 18-02-1989 jointly by Government ha. Theisland is about 5 kms from . ofIndia and State of Tamil Nadu. Islands around This island has to be approached from Gulf of Mannar houses a rich variety of fauna Poomarichan island .by crossing the channel and flora that derives her the tehn "Biologists separating the two islands. Eastern and southern Paradise".· All 21 islands are coral islands of shores are sandy while the northern part is muddy fringing and patch types covering an area of and marshy. . 623.12 hectares. Poomarichan Island Shingle Isbmd Poomarichan island covers an area of 16.58 ha. It is situated 5 kms away from Shingle island has an area of 12.69 ha. Mandapam. 1t is almost like a horse~shoe shaped Earlier Singalese fishermen used ' to land and island. It is a marshy island, wooded jungle with stay here during their fishing operation. Hence the water area enclosing a continuous reef. it was called Singala thivu, later termed as Fishermen from Mandapam and Pamban collect Shingle Island. Its northwest and northeastern shells from this island. shores are sandy, the southwestern shore is found full of dead corals. This island is 4 kms away Manoli Island from Pamban. This area is good for snorkelling. Manoli island covers an area of 25 .90 ha. It is situated at a distance of 6 Krusadai Island kms from the Mandapam camp mainland. pxtensive reefs with live and dead corals Krusadai island has an area of65.80 ha. I This island is 3 km away from Pamban. The are present on the southern and northern nearest land is Kundugal point 500 mt away. sides. The island has lagoonal pools and The southeast part of the 'island is sandy, while open mud flats. The lagoonal area is the northern part is muddy with marshy margined shorewardly by mangroves and vegetation. Western part of the island is covered seawardly by live corals. 88 89 The northern and southern beach ridges are xerophytic vegetation. The reef area is small. separated by an area of Thespesia wood land. The average ·depth of lagoon is about 2.S m. Large number of birds visit this island during Branching corals are seen at a distance of 200 March to September. Fishermen and seaweed meters from the shoreline, then massive type of collectors are staying for a stretch of six or seven the corals heads and dominate with increase in days with their families. the depth. astern partofthe . Manoliputty Island Vilangushuli Island Main inhabitants This island covers an area of 2.34 ha., I, Moths, Beetles, This island covers an area of 0.95 ha. and is situated 6 kms away from Mandapam and situated about 15 km from Tuticorin Hemichordate camp. Bushes are abundant and patch corals are Since the island mainland. This island reef is narrow and found around this island. It is a very small island •animal life, it is elongated. It is a very small island, completely separated from the nearby Manoli island by an sts Paradise". strewn with coral rubbles , ·some bushes and extensive sand flat. Fishermen are staying here days for fishiltg grasses that are seen towards the middle of the for collecting seaweed and live shells. island.

Hare Island KariyashuU Island This island COVers an area of 16.46 ha. In area of 29.95 This island is largest of all 21 islands and is situated about lSkm away from the :om Mandapam. covering an area of 129.04 ha. It is 7 kms away Tuticorin mainland. The reef area is small and ,roached from from Mandapam camp. Shore is sandy. Dense depth exceeds 3 m in certain places. This island ng the channel coconut gardens are found in this island. Human had best formed reef among all islands and now ern and southern interference has brought some cattle, goats and it is no more best due to exploitation for !m part is muddy monkeys to the island. Very good assemblage limestone. Fishermen from nearby villages are of coral reefs are found around the island. here for operation of bottom-set gill nets. Men Tolerably good drinking water is present. from Ervadi collect seaweeds around this island.

>vers an area of Van Island Upputhanni Island ms away from ,rse-shoe shaped Van island covers an area of 16 ha. and This island is about 29.94 ha. and is >ded jungle with is situated 6 km away from Tuticorin new situated opposite to Mukayur village. This island mtinuous reef. harbour mainland. Construction of break waters can be reached by vallam (motorised canoe) in Pamban collect in Tuitcorin harbour in early 70's caused the 25 minutes from this Village. The island is 8 km depletion of sediment from the upstream side in away from Vern bar. It is a fairly big with plenty the northwest direction to 1.62 km towards the of coral rubbles. There are few trees here and mainland. Reef of Van island is non-elongated there, with a number of tall bushes. The entire with sharp corners and their developments are island is covered with grasses. Several fishermen rs an area of extensive on the south, southeast and northeast from Naripaiyur camp here to quary coral distance of 6 of the island. Fishermen from Taruvaikulam and boulders buried in the centre of the island, thus mp mainland. Tuticorin visit the island for collection of coral .disturbing the natural formation of corals in the d dead corals rubbles from the shallow water zone around the island. and northern island. nal pools and )onal area is Koswari Island They also camp here frequently for angroves and commercial exploitation of the 8eaweed This island covers an area of 19.50 ha. Gelidiella sp. and Gracilaria sp. growing in and is situated 7 km away from Tuticorin the shallow waters around the island. mainland. The whole island is covered with PALK BAY .....

~C'IJ o ~ ...- .. ..d. ... ij.:) ~ ,0 .. - ~ ' . 7 ,.' ~ ,. ~ ; ' ~ ~ ------~ \' o ..... ~ .,t;:.~" .. IS. Hare.s I. '·.nTift 8. AaoIppor II ~ 'si;~~ 2. KalWar II 9.VaH~ 16; Monouli •• · ~., o't 'I, .:. ~." : ",t 3. KaralCltOlll .. 10. Appa I. ' 17 : Manaull-puttl " • · ·Wo II. PlMMlroa. pIItl II 1'.Poo.~ I. · D .r .(1" '\), 4. VlJanguc:llolll I. , :, 12. ToIoIrI' I. 19. PuIiVOIOI Is i ~ UpputII-' " 20. Kruaadol I. > ;J t>!· i 6. PuluYinicllolil " 13- VoIoI 'I " := .. 21.5...... 7. NoIotllOllIli I. 14. MuIO' II

fl' 'b ~ [ISLAIiDSoF GULF OF NAIOWI] . ~ I ( '- " ~ 7ft'10' '1 NaUathanni Island is 9 km away from . It is a sandy island This island has an area of 11 0.00 ha. with shore strewn with coral rubbles. This island and is situated in 2 km from Mundel, a placenear is completely covered with Acacia trees and taU . Potable water is available. This bushes ofZlzyphNSJUJNH. "rhe southern corner is one of the biggest island having about 4000 of the island has been affected due to wave coconut trees, palmyrah and other woody trees. action. Fishermen visit this island for lobster A temple of Muniswaran god is present. People fishing. Women and boys are engaged in algae from mainland used to visit the temple on every and live shell collection. Live coral reefs are Tuesday and Friday of the week. A good available in southwestern corner at a distance of number of fishermen frequently visit this island 700 m from the shore. Dead coral reefs are for fishing operations. They are also engaged in available aU around the island. algae and live shell collection. Coral reefs and coral boulders are available all around the island Poovarasanpatti Island ('Kilangan Paar') at a distance of 0.5 km on the southern side and This island is 0.25 ha. in area and is very near on the northern side. visible only during low tide and fully submerged during high tide. Live corals are available in Puluvinchalli Island this area upto a distance of 100m except on the northern side. Collection ofseaweed is the only This island has an area of6.12 ha. and aCtivity of the fishermen here. it is 18 km away from Vembar. It has a good sandy beach. A fairly good portion of the island has thick vegetation. Few Thespesia trees are Other islands available on the eastern side. Fishermen from Appa island has an area of 28.63 ha. Kilakarai frequently visit this island, staying for and is situated 8 km away form Kilakarai. Talairi a week for lobster fishing. Some people are island covers an area of 75.1 5 ha. and is in 15 engaged in algae and live shell collection. This km away from Kilakarai. Valai island has an island is surrounded by live coral all around area of 10.15 ha. and is 15 km away from except for a small stretch on the eastern side. Kilakarai. Trap-net fishing is intensive in and around this island. Mulli island covers an area of 10.12 ha. and is situated about IS km from Vallimuni Island Kilakarai. Bushes are found throughout this This island has an area of 6.72 ha.,. It island.