The Marine Life Of Andaman & Nicobar Islands

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Sylvia Earle of Mission Blue, an organization involved in the study of oceans has named Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep, among thirty one new Hope Spots - places that are critical to the health of the ocean.

The two islands are the first spots in India and part of 31 new hope spots across the world added to the existing 19 spots.

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A Hope Spot is an area of ocean that merits special

protection because of its wildlife and significant underwater

habitats. Some are already formally protected, while others still

need protection. “What we’ve done here is identify a number of

critical areas that represent a real hope to restore the health of

our imperiled ocean. The pristine seas, the World Heritage

areas, marine sanctuaries, marine protected areas, reserves –

whatever they’re called.

We started with 19, now the number is 50 but for me there

really is just one Hope Spot – it’s the ocean,” according to

Sylvia Earle. "Hope Spots are a wonderful network of places

around the world which are new to many of us," says Carl

Gustaf Lundin, Director, IUCN Global Marine and Polar

Programme. Continue Reading

These are areas that in many ways represent all the amazing

things we have in the ocean. This is a great opportunity to really

cherish these areas and make sure we take care of them for the next

generation.

The new Hope Spots were announced during the 3rd

International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC3)

currently underway in Marseille, France. Co-organized by IUCN

and the French Marine Protected Areas Agency, IMPAC3 gathers

over 1,200 marine specialists and ministers from around the world

to propose solutions for the conservation and sustainable

development of our oceans.

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The Andaman and Nicobar have 572 islands, islets and rocks

with unique flora and fauna. There are around 270 species and

sub-species of birds in these two islands of which around 106

have been declared endemic. The Andaman Wood Pigeon,

Andaman Padauk and Dugong are the state bird, the state tree

and the state animal respectively. The islands have 96 wildlife

sanctuaries, nine national parks and one biosphere reserve in the

islands.

While, the IUCN and Mission Blue has 19 Existing Hope

Spots, 31 new spots including Central Arctic Ocean, The White

Shark Café, Sala y Gómez and Nazca Ridges,The Tasman Sea,

Walter’s Shoal, Coral Seamount, Atlantis Bank, The Aghulas

Front, Core of the South Pacific Gyre, Pacific Subtropical

Convergence Zone

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French Overseas territories (Wallis & Futuna), Lord Howe

Rise, Maldive Atolls, Sub antarctic islands and their surrounding

seas, New Zealand Saya de Malha Banks, Southeast Shoal of the

Grand Banks, Emperor Seamount Chain, East Antarctic

peninsula, Grand Recif de Toliara, Madagascar, Central American

Dome, Jan Mayen, Maputo Bay-Machangulo Complex

Mozambique , Central Pacific (High Seas) as Bounded by

EEZs of Polynesia, Micronesia and Melanesia, Dominican

Republic designations, Scott Islands, Canada, Northwest Passage,

Abrolhos Bank, Chiloe National Park Expansion, Chile and

Ascension Island has been added to the list during the IMPAC3.

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Four new spots, Kosterfjorden/Yttre

Hvaler, Norway/Sweden, Mergui archipelago, southern

Burma, Querimas Islands, northeastern Mozambique and

Spitzbergen Island have been proposed to be added in near

future.

My website Andamanexcursion.com