Coral bleaching intensity at St.Martin Island, Bangladesh; status, conservation and restoration.

St. Martin island and adjacent western reef location is only coral habitat in Bangladesh. Although not any formation of reef occurred, more than 70 species of species have so far been identified under 22 genera. The... [ view full abstract ]

St. Martin island and adjacent western reef location is only coral habitat in Bangladesh. Although not any formation of reef occurred, more than 70 species of species have so far been identified under 22 genera. The anthropogenic is considered less than recent tourism induced threats prevailing in the island coral ecosystem more due to recent development and tourism initiative. Current man made major threats are sedimentation, plastic pollution, damage by anchor damage, and coral mining.  Global worming intensifying coral bleaching along with the entire world tropical coral habitat. Bleaching has been recorded in 1998, 2008 and in last several  (2013-17) years with NOAA Coral Watch alert level 1. Bleached coral recovery difficult due to huge sedimentation and other pollution from the tourism activity. During peak tourist season 5-8 large vessel operates daily in Oct-April each year with carrying several thousand each day make huge plastic disposal in the sea that has no control yet in place. The vessels anchor nearshore that create extreme sedimentation by propeller movement. Large number of plastic items and huge sedimentation recorded in coral survey. Sewage and toilet facilities are not made suitable for coral habitat.  The island has been declared as Ecologically Critical Area by Bangladesh Government in 1999, but other than no MPA still has been established and conservation management still in question. Research organization Marinelife Alliance is continuously monitoring the bleaching and dataloggers has been installed at various location for temperature monitoring.