More than 50,000 people in 138 villages and towns spread over five districts rely indirectly on the fishery resources of the waters of the Gulf for their livelihood. Commercial fishing is carried out in about 5,500 sq. km. of the reserve. The construction of the project will destroy the unique and fragile marine ecology of the area through constant dredging to maintain a canal depth of about 10 m. Aside from the immediate area of the sea bed, the consistent churning of sediment will also smother the coral reefs. The increase in shipping traffic will inevitably result in an increase in oil spills and marine pollution.
The area is already under stress from industries along the Tamil Nadu coast. Ash and effluents from the Tuticorin Thermal Power station, the Dhrangadhra Chemical works and the Tuticorin Salt Marine Chemicals already pollute the Gulf.
The Gulf of Mannar is one of India's most biologically diverse coastal regions. Over 3,600 species of plants and animals exist in this area, in a combination of different ecosystems including mangroves, sea grasses and coral reefs. It is the first marine biosphere reserve in south and south-east Asia. Encompassing a group of 21 small islands along the coast, the reserve stretches for 180 km. and is approximately 10 km. wide. Believed to have the highest concentration of seagrass species along India's coast, with six of the world's twelve seagrass genera and 11 of the world's 50 seagrass species occurring here. These beds are of global significance as they are among the largest remaining feeding grounds for the globally endangered dugong, Dugong dugong. Additionally, five species of marine turtles, innumerable fish, molluscs and crustaceans also feed here.
The Gulf of Mannar also harbours 117 species of coral belonging to seven genera. At least 17 different mangrove species occur within the reserve area. Of these, Pemphis acidula, is endemic. The IUCN Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas along with the UNEP, UNESCO and WWF have identified the reserve as being an area of "particular concern". On the basis of its threatened status and richness of biological wealth, the reserve was one of six areas chosen for inclusion in an action programme to save India's protected areas.
Despite this international recognition of its biodiversity potential, the Tamil Nadu government has chosen to ignore all protests, national and international, and seems determined to go ahead with the project. Unless large-scale public opinion can be mobilised, the dugongs, sea turtles and biodiversity of the Gulf of Mannar will be sacrificed together with the livelihoods of thousands of traditional fisherfolk.
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