Coral Relocation Amidst Great Nicobar Project

Coral colonies and giant clams impacted by the Great Nicobar Island (GNI) mega project's transhipment port at Galathea Bay will be translocated to four new sites on the island's west coast. The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) confirmed this plan during a recent biodiversity committee meeting. This action is a requirement stipulated in the project's Environmental Clearance (EC) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearances.

ZSI has identified suitable locations and will tag translocated colonies with GPS for survival monitoring. The project's environmental management plan also addresses the conservation of endemic species like the Nicobar Megapode and leatherback marine turtles, a species for which Galathea Bay is a crucial nesting ground. The plan includes obtaining necessary approvals for handling protected species.

While the government asserts no corals exist on the port's eastern flank, this was previously contested. However, the National Green Tribunal ruled in February 2026 that the project complies with regulations, while also directing coral regeneration efforts. The Wildlife Institute of India reported finding 141 leatherback turtle nests, and satellite tagging is recommended to track turtle movements prior to project commencement.