Daijiworld Media Network- Mumbai

Mumbai, Jan 29: A visit to the beach is often associated with scenic views and relaxation. However, beneath the sands and rocks lies a hidden world of marine biodiversity that remains largely unnoticed. To shed light on this underwater wealth and involve citizens in its documentation, the Mumbai-based Coastal Conservation Foundation (CCF) and the Visakhapatnam-based East Coast Conservation Team (ECCT) have launched the India Intertidal Bioblitz, a 10-day initiative that commenced on January 26.

A bioblitz is an event where participants identify and record as many species as possible within a specific area over a short duration. Timed to coincide with the low tide around the new moon, this bioblitz spans Mumbai, Goa, Visakhapatnam, and the Andaman Islands. In Mumbai, the Marine Life of Mumbai, an initiative of CCF, along with the Naturalist Foundation, is leading explorations at various locations, including Haji Ali, Nepean Sea Road, Carter Road, Bandstand, Juhu Koliwada, Girgaon Chowpatty, and Bhuigaon Beach.

Promoting Tidepool Exploration and Citizen Science

The primary goal of the bioblitz, according to Pravin Patade, co-founder of CCF, is to introduce the concept of tidepooling—exploring small pools of water left behind by receding tides—to the public. Participants are encouraged to document their observations on the crowdsourced citizen-science platform iNaturalist.

“This initiative ensures that instead of scattered data, all biodiversity findings are documented in a single platform, increasing awareness about coastal wildlife while also aiding researchers,” Patade explained.

Since 2017, CCF has been actively logging observations on iNaturalist. Over 180 contributors have recorded more than 11,000 observations, revealing the presence of at least 600 marine species along Mumbai’s shores.

Field Explorations Yield Fascinating Discoveries

Participants, including zoology students, researchers, and nature enthusiasts, are being guided by experts to enhance their marine explorations. At Haji Ali, assistant biologist Umesh Avadootha led a group of five, including three zoology students from Ulhasnagar and a shark researcher. Avadootha emphasized the importance of patience and keen observation in tidepooling.

“The organisms we seek are often minuscule and camouflaged,” said Ashutosh Singh, one of the students. “By closely observing shallow pools and spaces between rocks, we can detect subtle movements revealing hidden creatures.”

A useful tip from Avadootha is to focus on areas with green algae, which often harbor the solar-powered elysia sea slug—an organism that incorporates algae into its digestive system to perform photosynthesis, much like plants.

During their exploration, the team encountered a variety of species, including snail eggs, crabs, gobi fish, brittle starfish, clams, sea anemones, hermit crabs, polychaete worms, butterfly seashells with blue outlines, sponges, and the Cratena pawarshindeorum—a recently discovered sea slug species unique to Haji Ali.

Rare Sightings and Enthusiastic Participation

Meanwhile, another team led by Patade at Carter Road had a rare and exciting sighting of an octopus. “It was fleshy pink, about a foot long, swaying in the water before swiftly retreating under the rocks. The joy of the sighting lingered long after,” Patade shared.

With the event continuing in the coming days, marine enthusiasts are hopeful for more remarkable discoveries, further enriching knowledge about Mumbai’s coastal biodiversity.