Kundapur: State Govt Announces Netrani Island as Biodiversity Hot Spot
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SB)
 
Kundapur, Feb 11: State has issued a notification declaring Netrani Island near Murudeshwar here as Biodiversity Hot Spot.

Speaking to media persons, Ananth Hegde Ashisara, president of Task Force for Development of Western Ghats said that the government’s announcement comes in the wake of pressing need to conserve the marine biodiversity. The announcement has been made State Biodiversity Board and it has been decided that the biodiversity board, State Wildlife Board and forest department will jointly strive to preserve the marine life in the region, he added.

The departments have also contemplated planning various programmes to conserve and create awareness on the marine life such as setting up research centre and declaring the region as nature spot of the coastal region.

About Netrani Island 

Netrani is a tiny island located in the Arabian Sea and is situated approximately 10 nautical miles (19 km) from the temple town of Murudeshwar. It is just a kilometre away from Bhatkal and Honnavar national highway and 220 km south of Goa. A half-an-hour boat ride from Murudeshwar will lead you to Netrani Island. 

Also known as Pigeon Island, besides pigeons, the inhabitants of the island are wild goats. The island also has a temple, church and a mosque each. It also houses nation’s best beaches. A coral island, it is very suitable for snorkeling and scuba diving activities. 

The island and surrounding sea is home for endangered coral reef, varieties of coral, shrimps, fishes such as butterfly fish, trigger fish and parrot fish along with eels. There are also reports of divers sighting orcas and whale sharks. 

The island offers diving suitable for professionals. The clear waters and rich marine life around the island makes diving and snorkeling, a superlative experience with visibility usually in the 15-20 metre range. The dive sites are 10 to 30 metre deep, and comprise coral reefs on the eastern side of the island and rock walls on the west and north western side of the island.

Due to recently imposed security restrictions, official permits need to be arranged for diving at the island. The best time to visit is between December and January. There are snorkeling and scuba diving from June to September as the sea becomes rough. Normally diving or snorkeling is done from a boat anchored close to the island and not from the island due to sharp rocks and steep cliffs.