EFFECTS OF MARINE POLLUTION IN A & N ISLANDS Damaging the entire Marine Ecosystem ( Marine life i.e. Coral Reefs , Flora & Fauna)

We all know that Andaman and Nicobar islands are the worst affected islands due to Tsunami on 26th Dec; 2004. This island was most divested on the day of Tsunami, these islands had a huge loss of life and property along with marine life too like coral reefs, flora & fauna etc. A huge area of islands is submerged under the sea. Few beaches are completely new to these islands. According to my friend Dr.K.Gopal (Marine Biologist), After Tsunami Till dates not an exclusive study were conducted about the flora and fauna of the beaches or inertial zone, especially about the meiofauna of this new beach. Every beach/coast of these islands is polluted with the plastic debris, like Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, aerosol canes, perfume bottles, empty chemical canes, oil canes, waste electrical appliances, like bulbs, switches, cigarette lighters, oil wastes and other materials. That most of the pollutants are from neighboring countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, even from other country like Germany, Netherlands, Paris, Maldives etc.(Photos are enclosed) These Pet bottles are either written in Indonesian language, Taiwan language, Malaysian, Maldives or it is product of USA or Germany. Where did these pollutants come from on the beaches of these islands? The source of these pollutants is International ships which pass through near by this island or with a certain distance from the island. There is a chance that the cargo ships or any other type of vessels which usually crossing this area during the course of their destination, they may dispose off their garbage, personnel toiletries product and other empty chemical/waste oils or Hydro carbon canes. And these pollutants floating on the high seas and with the waves it finally reach to the beaches of the nearest islands. These plastic pollutants are not only damaging the entire marine ecosystem, but also it degrades the fertility of the inertial zone which is one most important part of the ocean as well as for the islands too. Another, effect of these pollutants when these pet bottles, plastic, cigarette lighter and electric bulbs are intrudes into the life cycle of a marine animal commonly called as GooseBarnacle”.Goose barnacles also called stalked barnacles are filter feeding crustacean that live attached to hard surfaces of rocks and flotsam in the ocean inter-tidal zone. One of the stages of the life cycle of this animal is that, after spawning from the eggs, during the larval stage it has to attach to a substratum, either it may be rock or log or bamboo pole etc. and they grow on the substratum. But it is very unfortunate those now a day the pollutants are taking these places(Photos are enclosed). These larva should be present with in the inertial zone, or otherwise it cannot be survived, because these animals needs a frequent tidal fluctuations, to feed on the tidal waves, it is a filter feeding animal. But pet bottles, Jeri canes etc are so light in weight that along with the animal, these bottles may cross the inter-tidal zone either due to wind, due to wave or through human interference and eventually the animal may die. the most popular tourist spot like Carbyn's cove area is effected by frequent blast of the Quarry and the garbage dumped near by the sea side of Brooksabad the pollutants merge into the sea and effect marine life And ultimately, the future of the marine animals which is sheltered by the pollutants is “DEATH”

The above one is an example of one animal, if an intensive study could be conducted about the effect of the pollutants on Marine organism, it could give a broad and clear picture of pollution level on the A& N Islands. The islands marine lives suffer badly with the pollution if proper waste management plans not implemented by the A & N Admn.