Assessment of the Conservation Status of Seahorses of Andaman and Nicobar Islands through Underwater Surveys and Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK)

Jessica Barman

This study will provide a baseline data on species abundance of seahorses in Andaman and Nicobar Islands through underwater surveys (snorkelling/ SCUBA diving) and report a visual census through the belt transect method.

Based on the underwater survey, a categorization of the habitat distribution of the seahorses would be made that would provide data on species specific habitat preference. This vital information could be used for area-based conservatory actions.

This study will also focus on Local Ecological Knowledge by collecting secondary data from fishermen and SCUBA divers (including habitat information) from different dive centres in this region. All these reports will provide data on species abundance and distribution of seahorses to help adopt conservatory measures and help protect these fast-declining organisms.

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