pollution levels have reached alarming proportions in Mumbai, severely affecting the fish catch and other marine resources. B R Subramaniam, director of the Department of Ocean Development, blames population explosion and rising industrial activity along the coastline for the present situation. Estimates show that Mumbai contributes industrial effluents and 1,600 million litres of untreated sewage to the sea everyday.

Increased pollution load has mainly affected big cities as a huge amount of municipal waste is generated in these places. Oil spill by pipelines are also contributing to the rising pollution level in the sea. This has seriously affected several species of fish, mollusc, algae and other marine resources.

Most of the cities and towns along the coastline such as Mangalore and Kochi are also contributing to the pollution upsurge. Subramaniam points out that oil spill, industrial effluents and cutting down of mangrove forests such as the Sunderbans has also significantly contributed to the pollution.