(N/A) Coral reefs require specific environmental conditions to thrive,including high salinity,clear water,and a lack of excessive siltation.
In the regions from West Bengal to Andhra Pradesh,large rivers like the Ganges,Brahmaputra,Mahanadi,Godavari,and Krishna discharge massive amounts of fresh water and sediment (silt) into the Bay of Bengal.
This influx of fresh water lowers the salinity,and the high silt content increases turbidity,which blocks the sunlight necessary for the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living within the coral polyps.
In contrast,the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu and certain other parts of the east coast have higher salinity,clearer water,and minimal freshwater inflow,providing the ideal conditions for coral reef development.