Mannar bio-diversity and its dry fish industry

Salt marshes at Vankalai lagoon, Mannar

Recently the state minister for tourism came out with a new idea to bring foreign currency to Sri Lanka. To bring dollars into the country the minister wanted to convert the island of Mannar into a hub of nightclubs, nightlife, and night economy. The minister mentioned that the tourists are coming here to drink and enjoy (likely the minister did not mention what sort of enjoyments). The minister further mentioned that the island of Mannar was only used to produce dry fish and nothing else. This statement has raised many eyebrows. Many commented on the statement mainly indicating the cultural pollution that is anticipated.  

The island of Mannar is one of a kind in the world. It has its beaches, sand dunes, mangroves, beautiful sceneries with sunrises and sunsets, local and migratory birds, and rear animals like loris. This island, for millions of years, is serving the world’s biodiversity.  

During winter in the northern part of the world, some of the birds in those countries migrate to Sri Lanka. As they arrive the first port-of-call of them is the island of Mannar. Then they disperse to various parts of the country. However, many stay put on Mannar island. By the beginning of summer in the northern part of the world, the birds that have come to Sri Lanka will leave for their original countries. Before leaving, for many birds, the island of Mannar is the refueling point before starting the thousands of kilometer journey back home.   

Most of these migratory birds rely on the aquatic environments of the island of Mannar. Those are freshwater bodies, lagoons, marshland, and mangroves. These aquatic environments provide the birds with food and shelter.   
During the winter, in the northern part of the world, the day-night ratio shifts in favor of night (darkness). The water turns into ice and there will be a scarcity of liquid water. During the same time period, the day-night ratio in Mannar is more or less equal and there is plenty of water as it is the rainy season for Mannar. Therefore, the migratory birds are blessed with this soothing environment on the island of Mannar. In this manner, the island of Mannar has been a support to the world’s bird diversity. This has been going on for millions of years.  

If nightclubs start on the island of Mannar, as suggested by the state minister, it will alter Mannar’s ecosystems drastically. Changing environment will destroy the livelihood of the people of Mannar. Nightclubs are often decorated with bright colour lights and very loud music. While the colour lights destroy the darkness and the loud music will disturb the birds’ resting time. This will definitely affect their biological clock and can have an effect on their physiology. Scientific studies have shown that many migratory birds navigate using the position of stars and start their journey in the night. The bright colorful light will light the night sky and the birds will get disoriented.   

One of the major freshwater sources on the island of Mannar is KorakKulam. This lies a few kilometers from Mannar town along Mannar-Thalaimannar road. At high water tide, the water level comes almost to the edge of the main road. Thousands of birds including hundreds of flamingos depend on the existence of this freshwater body.

However, already cemented human settlements have started by the side of the road encroaching KorakKulamn rim. These settlers settled by the side of the road have no environmental concern but having only economic benefits. If nightclubs start in Mannar, these settlements also will have colourful lights and loud music to absorb some of the benefits of the night economy. This light and sound pollution will chase the birds off Kora Kulam.   

Mannar is a place where one can observe lorises very easily. Lorises are one of the most primitive primates. Their close relatives are found in Madagascar. This is evident that Sri Lanka together with the Indian sub-continent was with the African continent millions of years ago. In this manner, the Island of Mannar is serving the global biodiversity for millions of years. The Loris is strictly a nocturnal animal. They feed mostly on insects that are active at night. If nightclubs start on the island of Mannar the colourful lights not only distract the loris but their food, the insect. Thus, lighting the night sky with colourful light will have profound effects on Lorises’ lifestyle.  

These are some examples of the destructive effects that nightclubs could bring to the island of Mannar. I am pretty sure the newly appointed state minister wouldn’t have had any knowledge before suggesting nightclubs, nightlife, and night economy on the island of Mannar. The only thing that the Minister knew was the thriving dry fish industry. As a rule of thumb, our elected public representatives, suddenly think they are enlightened with all the knowledge and they are the only people who know everything once elected. They become subject exerts soon after assuming ministry whichever it may be. In fact, they refuse to listen to the intellectuals. 

 
There are plenty of subject experts in this country. There are many more carrying out complex multimillion-dollar projects in many countries around the world. In those countries, these Sri Lankans are trusted and given the opportunity to perform. Our leaders for the last 74 years have neglected these experts and took foolish decisions and brought our motherland to bankruptcy. Again, considering the island of Mannar to generate a night economy is another foolish decision by another state minister.   

The island of Mannar is one of the world’s best ecotourism spots. Ecotourism has to be established with the participation of the local people which will bring good income to the people and the country. In fact, the dry fish of Mannar is also world famous. That too can bring a good deal of dollars to our country. It is not something to be neglected or laughed upon.