News 

• Coral cover protection along the existing protected marine areas in Andaman and Nicobar islands is necessary for conservation of the endangered Bumphead Parrotfish, a new study has suggested.

Bumphead Parrotfish

• Bumphead parrotfish, Bolbometopon muricatum, is an important component of coral reef ecosystem, but is highly endangered globally.

• It is categorized as ‘vulnerable’ in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

• This fish is a highly prized resource, but is threatened due to limited knowledge about its distribution and abundance in Indian waters.

• A research recently studied the distribution, abundance and dangers to this species in the waters of Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Threats

• A large body size, aggregating behaviour and limited activity at night make B. muricatum an easy target for spear-fishers.

• Combined with slow growth and low replacement rates, this has resulted in population decline across the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea region.

• The study reports that the presence of a protected area, live coral and algal cover, significantly influenced the distribution and abundance of muricatum.

• Incidental catch by fishers and degradation of coral reef habitats are two potential threats to the species.

• Evidence of low abundance of muricatum on ocean reefs surrounded by deep waters, and traits such as limited dispersal and gregariousness, could also have influenced the distribution and abundance of this fish.

• The findings suggest the necessity to ban night fishing for the species and to implement regulations regarding reef fishing.