Coral bleaching witnessed in reefs

Coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar are located mainly around 21 islands between Mandapam and Tuticorin. Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, affiliated to Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, has been conducting studies on the impact of elevated sea surface temperature on corals since 2005.

Its director J.K. Patterson Edward told The Hindu that the major reef areas in the GoM were shallow, between 0.5 to 3 metre deep, and hence a high temperature of around 29