Situated on the Eastern coast of India, the Chilika Lake is not only the largest brackish water lagoon of Asia but also the largest wintering ground for the migratory waterfowl in the Indian Subcontinent.(Seagrass Area) Chilika is also the hotspot of biodiversity in the country and several rare, vulnerable, and endangered listed in the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of threatened animals spend a major part of their life cycle in the lagoon.
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But apart from being a hotspot for rare and endangered species of migratory birds, a recent survey has revealed that Chilika now houses 22% of India’s Seagrass area. The survey carried out by the Chilika Development Authority has found out that the total seagrass area has increased from 152sq km to 155sq over the past year.
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Why is Seagrass Important?
SOURCE: https://grist.org/climate/the-u-k-s-lost-seagrass-meadows-to-be-resurrected-in-climate-fight/
Usually found in shallow marine waters such as bays and lagoons, seagrasses are submerged flowering plants that play a vital part of the marine ecosystem providing food, habitat, and nursery areas for numerous vertebrate and non-vertebrate species. Apart from that, the sensitive nature of seagrass towards change in water quality makes them an excellent indicator to determine the overall health of coastal ecosystems. Seagrass also helps to stabilize the sea bottom. The long roots of seagrass that extend both vertically as well as horizontally, helps to stabilize the sea bottom against intense wave action from currents and storms just like land grasses help prevent soil erosion.
Increasing Seagrass Area
Officials at Chilika Development Authority believe that the main reason behind increasing the seagrass area in the lagoon is the removal of illegal gheris in recent years, helping immensely to restore the ecosystem of the Ramsar site.
Apart from an increase in the seagrass area, the officials have also found the presence of five different species of seagrass, Holodue uninervis, Holodue pinifolia, Halophila ovalis, Halophila ovata, and Halophia beccarii, in the lagoon.
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In Conclusion
Over the last few years, the CDA has also achieved several other feats in terms of protection and enrichment of the ecosystem in the lagoon. Around 156 Irrawaddy dolphins have been protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the annual bird census carried out in the lagoon in January last year witnessed an increase in the total number of migratory birds to around 1.2 million. The lagoon also saw an increase in the population of open water diving ducks, particularly in the areas where gheris have been removed by the CDA over the last two to three years.
The Chilika lake is not just a site for migratory birds, but it also serves as a source of livelihood for over two lakh fishermen who live around it. Hence, the protection and enrichment of its ecosystem are of utmost importance for the environment as well as the economy.
At a time when the seagrass area is witnessing a declining trend worldwide, the results of the recent survey carried out by the CDA is a positive sign as it will contribute towards helping in strengthening the biodiversity and marine ecosystem of the lake.
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