zyszb29061978's Journal

When I was working with Zoology dept of Kirti College, I had an opportunity to visit Velneshwar beach along with Kirti college students for a study tour. It was our one of the best study tours that I had attended, the students and even the faculties were overjoyed. We had stayed at MPCOE campus (www.vpmmpcoe.org ) and the mess there provided us with very good food. We had visited two different beaches one of them was Velneshwar, which was a sandy beach and other was near Hedvi which was with rocky and sandy mix types. We could even manage to visit Guhagar beach.

At Velneshwar beach, there is one rocky patch which you should visit during low tide as it gets more exposed and shows variety of marine animals. We saw few live barnacles which were in higher numbers at the opposite side of rocks in order to avoid heavy wave actions. You can see many different varieties of sea anemones; they can be seen in small rock pools or just attached to rocks. At high tide, you may see them fully opened in order to attract more food with tentacles whereas at low tide the same tentacles were retracted inside and only circular disc can be seen. Just around these anemones you can see Ulva lactuca alga which is a green algae .There are three types of algae, Green (Chlorophyta), Brown (Phaeophyta) and Red algae (Rhodophyta). These Ulva algae are also called as Edible Green alga or Sea Lettuce. It was mesmerizing to witness such a diverse marine life in a single rock pool. For the students it was an unforgettable beach visit. Limpet and rock oyster were also observed in another rock pool, which was also beautifully covered with algae and many other marine animals. We were even lucky enough to spot one dead turtle shell which was found floating within the tidal water. Photograph of the same was taken for further species identification and documentation. A marine ghost crab in a sandy area was also recorded. All over the sandy beach, you could see the superb design made by mud-balls eaten and thrown by small marine crabs and its specific design is species-specific. We saw Isopoda and fish lice, which is a parasite on different species of fishes. Further, we could observe Padina algae (Phaeophyta or brown alga) with its holdfast, which helps it to stick to substratum even when there are heavy wave actions. They are also known as Peacock’s tail due to its pattern. The Sargassum algae (Brown algae) were also noted with its air bulb/bladders which help them to float and drift and grow at different places.

A pair of White bellied Sea Eagle, one of the most majestic sea eagle was seen encircling and Seagulls were seen making circular pattern of flight along with the thermals in the sky. We saw western reef egret, Grey Heron and other egrets feeding at intertidal area and seagulls were resting at white sandy beach. The MPCOE campus and around area itself has so many birds.

This pristine site of Velneshwar Seashore should be conserved for long term conservation basis. As the dead turtle was noted in our visit, there is a need for protection of these divine marine animals. They should be protected under a wild life act and Marine Conservation acts. We should sensitize some of the local people and fisher-folks who are residing here or nearby which can be achieved by simple beach cleaning activities. Once these few people (or school children) will sensitize, they can further aware towards the visitors and other people had or would be visiting in this area. This place is a really a good location and should be promoted for bringing college students or other students for Nature Awareness camps and Study Tours. We can really show them a good variety of birds, plants, local temples and sandy clean beaches.

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