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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.
Abstract This study investigated the impact of fishing ghost net derelict on coral health across different depths in the Androth reefs of Lakshadweep. The line intercept transects and Photoquard methods were utilized for analyzing the fishing derelict impact on coral reefs' health. The results of Kruskal-Walli’s test showed that the medians of coral health differed significantly across depths, with the lowest medians found in areas with fishing ghost net entanglements. A multiple regression model further supported this finding, showing that the total number of entanglements and mean incident catch rates were both significant predictors of coral health. Principal component analysis revealed that the contribution of coral colonies affected by fishing ghost net debris was most pronounced in certain sites, accounting for 68.3% of the observed differences. Hence, this study provides strong evidence of the detrimental effects of fishing debris on coral reef ecosystems. The findings suggest that fishing debris can significantly reduce coral health and that this impact is more pronounced in areas with higher levels of entanglements. These findings highlight the need for effective management strategies to reduce fishing debris and protect coral reefs.
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