VUFF-0030
The Gulf of Mannar Marine
National Park and Biosphere Reserve.
The
Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park ,established in 1986,(later as
First Biosphere Reserve of India in 1989) is a protected area of
India consisting of 21 small islands and adjacent coral reefs
in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean. It lies 1 to 10 km
away from the east coast of Tamil Nadu, South India for 160 km
between Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) and Dhanushkodi. It is the core
area of the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve which includes a 10
km buffer zone around the park, including the populated coastal
area. The park has a high diversity of plants and animals in its
marine, intertidal and near shore habitats. Public access inside
the Park is limited to glass bottom boat rides, when the
breeding season of several fish, is over.
Mangroves dominate
the intertidal zones of the park islands. They consist of species
belonging to the Rhizophora, Avicennia, Bruguiera,Ceriops and Lummitzera genus. Mangroves: Introduced Prosopis
genus of tree species are dominant on land in all the islands. Pemphis acidula ( Lythracease
family of flowering herb) is the only endemic plant species. 12
species of sea grass and 147 species of seaweeds were recorded. This
vegetation provides important feeding grounds for the vulnerable marine mammal, the Dugong, endangered Greenturtles and vulnerable Olive Ridley turtles , sea grasses.
Dugong, is the flagship mammal of the
park. Indo-Pacific bottle nose dolphin, finless porpoise, spinner dolphin, common dolphin, Risso's dolphin melon headed whale, and dwarf sperm whale are often sighted.
Four species each of shrimp and lobster, 106
species of crab, 17
species of sea cucumber r, and 466 species of mollusc
including 271 gastropods ,
174 bivalves, 5 polyplacophorans,
16 cephalopods
and 5 scaphopods ,
108 species of sponge
and 100 species of echinoderm
occur in this Gulf.
Glass-bottomed boats available at
Mandapam cater to tourists visiting the area. Access to the islands
is prohibited. The nearest railway stations is at Mandapam .
Please refer to the “Information
Booklet on Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve” of Environmental
Information System of Government of Tamil Nadu, for more information.
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park (VUFF-0030)(also IOTA AS-173) Activations:
AT0RI ,from 23rd to 31st August 2004. Other Calls operated: VU2VIT, KGN, LR, GUR, NDR, UR ,RMJ ,FBI, SWS, VU3RRU, WIA, YFD(digi modes)
AT5RP, from 14 - 17 August 2014, operators were VU2LU, GGM , UR, LX and JHM. during the Rameshwaram & Pamban Island Light House Dxpedition, 14 to 17 August 2014 Simultaneously, 1.Pamban Island IOTA AS-173; 2.Pamban Channel LH ARLHS IND-048 GL: MJ99og; 3.Rameswaram LH ARLHS IND-058 GL: MJ99ph were also activated.
AT5P, from 06 – 09, May 2016, other calls operated: VU2WH, CPL. VU3KPL
AT4DK, from 02 - 04 November 2018, other calls operated: VU3NPI. 345 QSOs in ClubLog
