Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve
World's first reserve dedicated solely to sea cucumber protection.
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Where it is
Coordinates: 11°54′07″N 71°46′59″E (11.9020, 71.7830) · Open in OpenStreetMap
Coordinates and connected clubs: the infobox of Wikipedia: Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map: drawn by Codexery from OpenStreetMap tiles.
The Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve, a marine protected area in the Arabian Sea, lies about 50 kilometers northwest of Bitra island, within the Indian union territory of Lakshadweep. Designated on February 27, 2020, it spans 239 square kilometers and encompasses sections of the Byramgore (Cheriyapani) Reef. It holds the distinction of being the first conservation area globally created solely for the protection of sea cucumbers.
Background
Since 2001, sea cucumbers have been protected in India under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, affording them the same legal protection as endangered species like tigers and lions, including a total ban on commercial harvest and transportation. This sharp decrease in supply has created exorbitant demand in the Asian black market, especially for traditional Chinese medicine treating erectile dysfunction, to the point where criminal organizations such as the Japanese yakuza reportedly make more money from smuggling sea cucumbers into countries like China and Malaysia than from methamphetamine sales.
Proposals for a marine protected area in India to combat this trend existed as early as 2003. In 2020, three MPAs were created in Lakshadweep: the Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve, the Attakoya Thangal Marine Reserve (344 km²), and the PM Sayeed Marine Birds Conservation Reserve (62 km²), collectively covering 685 km². The reserve is named after Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya and is located off the coast of Lakshadweep, including parts of the Byramgore (Cheriyapani) Reef.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reserve (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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