UNESCO describes the Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve as one of the world’s richest region in marine biodiversity. It has 4,223 species of plants and animals making it “one of the richest coastal regions in India.” According to UNESCO, the reserve has a “specialized ecosystem” with a unique “large marine ecosystem”.
Vaan Island in India’s Gulf of Mannar has been rapidly disappearing into the Laccadive Sea. But a team of marine biologists is working to save it.
https://en.unesco.org/biosphere/aspac/gulf-mannar