VUFF-103 LAKSHADWEEP MARINE BIOSPHERE RESERVE

VUFF-103:LAKSHADWEEP MARINE BIOSPHERE RESERVE:  MINICOY Is
was activated from 13th to 22nd August 2012 with the call  VU7M

Lakshadweep group of islands lie about 300 km to the west of Kerala.These islands are typical
of coral atolls.Several of the large islands are inhabited while the smaller ones are uninhabited
except for fishermen's brief visits.
These group of islands are of considerable importance for active conservation programmes
as they are rich in marine life.Several atolls house breeding colonies of tropical oceanic birds
and marine turtles.Mangrove vegetation is found only at the Minicoy island in a small patch,About
21 species of marine algae are found growing luxuriantly in the coastal waters, dominant ones
are the species of Gracilaria, Gelidium,Gelidiella,Turbinaria and Sargassam.

Seagrass meadows occur in long stretches along the shores and are confined to depth of up to 3 m.
The total seagrass cover in the Lakshadweep regions was estimated to be 1.12 km2 of which Minicoy
(the southernmost island) has a maximum of 0.4 km2, followed by Kavaratti (0.34 km2) and
Agatti (0.19 km2). Seagrass flora of Lakshadweep is dominated by Thalassia hemprichii and
Cymodocea rotundata. The seagrass meadows are mainly confined to lagoons towards the
leeward side, and can include Syringodium isoetifolium and Halophila ovalis. Small patches
of Halodule uninervis and Halophila ovata occasionally occur in the protected sandy regions
of the lagoons and on the reef flats towards windward sides at Kavaratti and Agatti islands.