Status of Coral Reefs in Palk Bay

Palk Bay is the sea between southeast of India and northwest of Sri Lanka, separated by Pamban Pass from Gulf of Mannar in the South and extends up to Kodiakarai coast in the North. The bay is characterized by a shallow basin with an average depth of 9 m. There is a well defined fringing reef which runs parallel to the shore, at the south west of the Palk Bay, extending 7.46 km from 09° 17' 14.8" N; 079° 11' 16.4" E at the East near Pamban to 09° 17' 34.4" N; 079° 06' 57.8" E towards the west of the bay, with the width varying from 200 m to 600 m at different places, and occurring at a maximum depth of 4 m.