ANDAMAN and NICOBAR ISLANDS, India (5 Jan 2005) -- Coral reefs have been completely washed away and marine life has been devastated in the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands. Dr. NR Chattopadhyay, Dean of the Fishery Sciences at the University of Animal and Fishery Sciences, told CDNN that the after-affects would be as devastating as the initial damage caused by the tsunami that struck the area on December 26. According to Dr. Chattopadhyay, the coral reefs that nurture thousands of marine species have been almost "wiped off the aquatic map of the Indian Ocean". "This is our first experience with the tsunami waves," Chattopadhyay said. "However, the devastation it has caused to marine life, specially the coral reefs and pearl oyster beds, will take a long time to heal." © CDNN - CYBER DIVER NEWS NETWORK | | A general view of tsunami-battered Patong Beach in Thailand's tropical island of Phuket. (Bazuki Muhammad) |
