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Assessing the Effects of Ghost Nets on Coral Health: An Examination of Coral Reefs on Androth Island, Lakshadweep
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Researchers assessed the effects of ghost nets on coral health at multiple sites on Androth Island in the Lakshadweep archipelago, India. The study found significant variation in coral condition across surveyed locations, with ghost net entanglement correlating with reduced live coral cover and increased bleaching or tissue damage.
Abstract In our study, we investigated the impact of derelict fishing gear on coral reefs in various locations on the Androth reef of the Lakshadweep. We found significant variations in coral health across the surveyed sites, with some areas showing a high percentage of live coral while others exhibiting a high percentage of dead coral. Ghost nets snagged on reefs at all depths had a significant negative impact on coral health, according to pairwise analyses. Pearson's correlation analysis of coral health and stress relationships confirmed a significant relationship between ghost nets and coral health (LC, DC, R, and AA) at all sampled depths. In our analysis, we examined coral mortality, tissue loss, and variations in zooxanthellae density among different coral species. The average sedimentation ranges recorded monthly were 49.75 ± 43.2 and 116 ± 41.05, respectively. The sedimentation rate in the Androth reefs of the Lakshadweep was approximately five times greater than in the other regions. During our survey, we observed abandoned fishing gear, including 6 mm fishing ghost nets (28%), 5 mm fishing ghost nets (11%), ropes (31%), buoys (19%), and lines (11%) across the study sites. The overall composition of live coral cover on averaged was 22.1%, while dead coral accounted for 24.3% and rubble constituted 53.6%. Furthermore, we removed more than 48 kg of ghost nets from the NIOT underwater pipe, and significant quantities of these nets were retrieved from sites SW3 and SW2 (12.5 kg each) during our efforts. This study highlights the critical importance of addressing ghost net entanglement and its detrimental effects on coral health, as well as the urgent need for conservation efforts in the surveyed reef ecosystems.
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The Impact of fishing ghost Nets derelicts on Coral Health in Androth's Reefs in Lakshadweep: A Comprehensive Study
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Abandoned or lost fishing nets, known as ghost nets, continue to trap and entangle marine life long after they are discarded, and this study examines their specific impact on coral reef ecosystems. The physical presence of ghost nets causes direct mechanical damage to coral structures while also blocking sunlight and promoting hypoxic conditions. Findings highlight ghost fishing as a significant but underappreciated threat to coral health alongside other stressors like bleaching and ocean acidification.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.