The Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands
Ramachandran, S. (2000). The Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands, in: Sheppard, C.R.C. (Ed.) Seas at the millennium: an environmental evaluation: 2. Regional chapters: The Indian Ocean to The Pacific. pp. 189-197
In: Sheppard, C.R.C. (Ed.) (2000). Seas at the millennium: an environmental evaluation: 2. Regional chapters: The Indian Ocean to The Pacific. Pergamon: Amsterdam. ISBN 0-08-043207-7. XXI, 920 pp., more
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Document type: Review
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| Abstract |
The Andaman and Nicobar islands comprise about 348 islands, located between 6° to 14°N latitude and 92° to 94°E longitude. Their total coastline is about 1926 km. The coastal area is richly fringed by mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass and seaweeds, and some atolls also occur. Being oceanic islands, the continental shelf area along these islands is limited in extent, but totals about 16,000 km². The continental slope is mostly absent. The coast is irregular and deeply indented by innumerable creeks, bays, inlets, estuaries and lagoons that have given rise to a rich biodiversity and high productivity. The population of these islands is about 0.29 million and it is growing rapidly. Fisheries and tourism play an important role in the economy of the islands, and both of these have great scope for further development. However, the coastal ecosystems are already degraded due to anthropogenic pressures, and an integrated developmental strategy is essential to ensure sustainable growth. The Lakshadweep Islands are also a territory of India and are included here. They are a group of low-lying coral islands and atolls, located off southwest India, forming part of the long Lakshadweep-Chagos chain which includes the Maldive islands. Their marine life is diverse, and they create a very large EEZ, with an important fishery. |
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