Awareness meetings in coastal villages in the Gulf of Mannar
by Jamila Patterson, SDMRI
The 5th and final coral awareness meeting was held in Rajapalayam coastal village of Tuticorin district on 9th October. Dr. Jamila Patterson introduced the International Year of the Reef and the role of coral reefs. She reminded that during the 2004 tsunami, the people living along Gulf of Mannar coast were protected by the presence of islands and corals but in other coastal areas of Tamil Nadu several hundreds of people lost their life and infrastructure. Hence, the stakeholders have the responsibility to conserve and protect the corals for the safety of our life and coast and bright future of our kids. Mr. Iyyamperumal, Assistant Director, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) gave a talk on the importance of corals and emphasized the need for conservation to have good fishery production for sustaining livelihood. Mr. Thinesh (Ph.D student) talked about the curent status of coral in the Gulf of Mannar and ways to protect them. He insisted that fisher folk should not be involve in destructive fishing activities in order to better conserve corals and to restore the depleted fishery resources. In between the talks, several entertainment programmes like song, drama and dance - related to coral conservation - were performed by local fisherwomen and also by the school children. The fisherman, Mr. Jaya Raj of Rajapalayam fishing village expressed his views on the benefits of raising awareness. He informed that corals and associated organisms are damaged due to destructive fishing and insisted villagers to follow eco-friendly fishing methods for sustainable fishing.
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The 4th coral awareness meeting was held in Inigo Nager coastal village of Tuticorin district on 21st September at 6 PM. Inigo Nager fishing village is located very near to the shore area of Tuticorin. Mr. Raja, Lecturer at SDMRI gave a talk about the International Year of the Reef, and the importance of raising awareness among coastal people about the conservation of marine resources especially coral reefs. Mr. Thinesh (PhD student) delivered a long speech on the importance of coral reef, global warming, the role of coral reef in marine eco-system, the impacts of illegal fishing and coral mining and finally about conservation measures. Ms. Penercy talked about the role of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust in coral reef conservation and asked people's coordination along with trust. Finally the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Sales of Inigo Nager Catholic Church insisted people to follow the knowledge attained through this programme and to maintain a protected marine ecosystem for their future generation. In between the talks, several entertainment programmes (song and dance - related to coral conservation) were performed by the local fisherwomen and also by the school children. The fifth awareness meeting will be held in Rajapalayam fishing village on the first week of October.
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The third awareness meeting was held in Thirespuram coastal village (Gulf of Mannar, Tuticorin district) on 19th July at 6.30 PM. Dr. Jamila Patterson gave a talk about the International Year of the Reef, and the importance of conservation of coral reefs for the bright future of the next generation. Mr. Iyyamperumal of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust (GOMBRT) gave a talk on the role of GOMBRT in coral conservation. Mr. K. Diraviya Raj (PhD student) gave a detailed talk about coral status and the need for conservation. In between the talks, several entertainment programmes (song, drama and dance - related to coral conservation) were performed by the local fisherwomen and also by the school children. The fourth village awareness meeting will be held in Inigo Nager fishing village on September 21st.
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The first awareness meeting was held in Arokiyapuram coastal village (Gulf of Mannar, Tuticorin district) on 1st June. It was conducted on a Sunday, when the fishermen are free. A presentation by Jamila Patterson was made to introduce the International Year of Reef, and the importance of coral reefs (globally and locally). In the presentation, the importance of coral reefs for the Gulf of Mannar was underlined with the fact that no damage and death occurred during 2004 December tsunami because of the presence of coral reefs. Mr. Diravium (PhD student) gave a detailed presentation about coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar. A fisherwoman talked also about the importance of reefs. Since in the Tuticorin district, bomb blasting fishing was earlier used, school children trained to present in a short play the negative impacts of bomb blasting fishing. The meeting ended with a song from local fisherwomen. All the participants were very interested and participative.
Another awareness meeting was held in Siluvaipatti coastal village (Gulf of Mannar, Tuticorin district) on June 15th.
The meeting are organized by the SDMRI in collaboration with Tuticorin District Administration, Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, SPIDER, ICRAN, WCMC-UNEP, CORDIO and IUCN
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