New Deep-Sea Coral Discovery in Andaman Sea: A Milestone for India’s Marine Biodiversity

Marine biologists have recently identified a previously unknown species of deep-sea coral during an underwater survey near the Barren Island volcano in the Andaman Sea. This discovery is significant as it occurs in the vicinity of India’s only active volcano, suggesting a unique ecological niche where marine life thrives under specific geophysical conditions.

Deep-sea corals, unlike their shallow-water counterparts, are often azooxanthellate, meaning they do not rely on symbiotic algae or sunlight for nutrition. Instead, they capture organic matter from the surrounding water. These corals act as 'ecosystem engineers,' providing essential habitats, breeding grounds, and nurseries for a vast array of marine organisms. The discovery near Barren Island highlights the high degree of endemism and biodiversity within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

However, the discovery also brings to light the vulnerabilities of deep-sea ecosystems. While deep-sea environments were once thought to be buffered from surface changes, recent studies indicate that rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification are penetrating deeper into the ocean. These changes can disrupt the calcium carbonate skeleton formation of corals, leading to habitat loss. Furthermore, the proximity to volcanic activity provides a natural laboratory to study how species adapt to extreme thermal and chemical environments, which is crucial for predicting the impacts of global warming.

From a policy perspective, this finding reinforces the objectives of India’s Deep Ocean Mission and the draft Blue Economy Policy. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive mapping of the seabed and the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in deep-sea regions to prevent damage from potential deep-sea mining or bottom trawling.