Mass Mortality of Montipora digitata (Scleractinia) in Vaan Island, Gulf of Mannar, Southeast India

Coral reefs around the world have undergone a dramatic degradation in the past 20-50 years because of anthropogenic factors such as coral mining, destructive fishing, coastal development and pollution, along with natural factors such as coral bleaching and diseases. Coral diseases are lethal, and could further deteriorate reefs across the tropics. The Gulf of Mannar (GoM), southeast India, falls within the Indo-Pacific realm which is considered as the world's richest marine biodiversity region.