Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Sciences

Vol. 41(1), February 2012, pp. 90-97

Status of the seawater quality at few industrially important coasts of Gujarat

(India) off Arabian Sea
Poonam Bhadja & Rahul Kundu*
Department of Biosciences, Saurashtra University, Rajkot-360 005, Gujarat, India.
*
[E-Mail: rskundu@sauuni.ernet.in, rahulkundu@yahoo.com ]
Received 21 November 2010; revised 24 January 2011

Present study reports the spatial and temporal variations of the seawater quality from five major shores along the South
Saurashtra coastline (India). The results suggested normal range of physical, chemical and biological characteristics in the
samples of Dwarka and Mangrol as these coasts are not affected by any apparent anthropogenic effects of any kind. The
results also suggested considerable anthropogenic load to the coastal waters of three other shores studied where moderate to
high degree of industrial activities existed. Results of the present study revealed that the spatio-temporal variations of water
quality parameters were considerably affected by anthropogenic impacts at Veraval, moderately at Kodinar and somewhat
lesser degree at Diu.

[Keywords: Anthropogenic impact; India; Saurashtra coast; Seawater quality; Spatial and temporal variation]

Introduction the aquatic system are mainly controlled by the

Seawater resources are considered to be one of the
major components of environmental resources that are
under threat either from over exploitation or pollution,
caused by human activities1. Coastal area is the most
dynamic and productive ecosystems and are also foci
of human settlements, industry and tourism2. Thus,
the water quality plays very important role in well-
being of human, animals and plants inhabiting the
area3. The quality of surface water within a region is
influenced by both natural processes and
anthropogenic activities4. Marine water quality has
become a matter of serious concern because of its
effects on human health and aquatic ecosystems
including marine life5. Physico-chemical
characteristics are indeed vital water quality
parameters for monitoring due to their instability6,
where significant variations in physico-chemical
parameters affect the quality of water resources7.
The proper and meaningful monitoring should
include examination of spatial and temporal patterns
of surface water quality, identification of chemical
species related to hydrological conditions and
assessment of environmental quality indicators8-12.
The nature and distribution of the flora and fauna in
__________
*Corresponding Author
Phone: + 91 281 2586419,
Fax: + 91 281 2577633, 2586419
fluctuations in the physical and chemical
characteristics of the water body13. The Arabian Sea is
considered as one of the most productive zones in the
world oceans14-15. Coastal regions between Okha and
Bhavnagar is now a hot-spot for mega industries like
Refineries, Cement, Chemicals, Soda Ash, Rayon,
Power plant, Fertilizer and other supportive
industries. This coastline is known for its rich marine
life especially intertidal biota in its extended intertidal
and subtidal areas16. Present studies therefore, have
been aimed to set up a seasonal database of standard
water quality parameters of five shores along the
South Saurashtra coastline which are favourite for
setting up mega industries.
Materials and Methods
Saurashtra region is located south-western part of
Gujarat State (India), part of the semi-arid to arid
Kathiawar Peninsula, and occupies a total coastal
stretch of 865 km. On an average, it receives 600 to
700 mm rainfall annually. Dwarka to Diu segment of
the south Saurashtra coastline stretches for about
300 km with smooth and straight sandy of rocky-
sandy beaches. The beaches are usually calcareous
and dominated by bioclasts, the consolidated ancient
equivalent of these biogenic sands are milliolite rocks.
The milliolite forms the substratum for the beach
sands and occur as cliffs, wave cut platforms and
 BHADJA & KUNDU: SEAWATER QUALITY AT FEW INDUSTRIALLY IMPORTANT COASTS OF GUJARAT
submerged dunes, all along the shoreline indicating
quaternary sea level fluctuations. Tides in Saurashtra
coast are mixed, predominantly semidiurnal type with
a large diurnal inequality. The study was conducted
on five different stations (Fig. 1) of Saurashtra
coastline, at Diu (20° 42′ N, 71° 01′ E), Kodinar
(20° 46′ N, 70° 46′ E), Veraval (20° 53′ N, 70° 26′ E),
Mangrol (21° 07′ N, 70° 07′ E) and Dwarka (22° 13′
N, 68° 58′ E). These shores were selected on the basis
of their strategic locations, existing industries,
infrastructural facilities for the likelihood of being
developed as industrial zones, different anthropogenic
activities along the entire coastal area.
The South Saurashtra coastline is basically rocky-
sandy, being rockier in the east and west, sandier in
the central part and more rocky-muddy in the far
eastern part. Union Territory of Diu, a small seasonal
tourist town, is devoid of industrial and other
anthropogenic pressures. A little away from this area
on the eastern side, the fishing town Zaffrabad, port
town Pipavav and Asia’s largest ship breaking yard
Alang is situated. Kodinar is a small town around
40 km west of Diu and has large cement factory and a
sugar factory. On the other hand, Veraval is one of the
largest fish landing site of India situated around
60 km west of Kodinar, surrounded by a Rayon
factory, number of small to medium scale industries
and 42 fish processing industries. It involves Port
activities like transport, boat manufacture and
Fig. 1Map showing the locations of the selected shores from
where the sampling was done.
91
receives wastes from different sources. The coastal
area between Kodinar and Veraval is fast emerging as
an industrial hot-spot and few mega industries like
chemicals, cement, polyester etc. are already in
operation. Mangrol is a small hamlet around 50 km
west of Veraval with predominantly fisherman
population. Dwarka, around 175 km west of Veraval,
is a major pilgrim town of India.
Each sampling stations were visited monthly and at
least six samples of surface seawater were collected
from different locations of the same coast. However,
the locations for the collection of samples in a
particular coast were fixed. The study was conducted
during November 2007 to October 2008 and the
collected data were presented season wise as the
weather condition of this part of the peninsular India
typically represents the periods of winter (December
to February), summer (March to May), monsoon
(June to August) and post-monsoon (September to
November).
Some physical parameters like seawater
temperature, pH and conductivity were measured
directly in the field using portable multi parameter
analyzer. Parameters like TS and TDS were
determined gravimetrically and samples for DO and
BOD were preserved in BOD bottle and later
analyzed. For the analysis of turbidity, salinity, COD,
calcium, magnesium, sulphate, sulphide, phosphate,
ammonia, chlorophyll and phaeophytin, seawater
samples were collected in polyethylene bottles. The
analytical procedures for all parameters were adopted
from APHA17 and Trivedi and Goel18.
The obtained data were subjected to different
statistical analyses for their cumulative acceptability.
Significance of spatial and temporal variations was
compared by using single factor ANOVA. Correlation
coefficients analysis was also performed to find out
relationship between various water quality parameters
within a sampling site. Cluster analysis were
conducted to detect multivariate spatial similarities in
marine water quality. All statistical analyses were
done as per Sokal and Rohlf19.
Results and Discussion
Temperature is one of the most important factors in
the coastal ecosystems, which influences the physico-
chemical characters of coastal water13. Since, the
sampling sites were on the open sea coastline off
Arabian Sea, were situated more than tens of
kilometers away of each other but shared the common
open coastline, spatial variations were not evident.
92 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 41, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 2012

The shores are open and continuous without any temperature the pH values also did not show much
barrier and thus, normal tidal activities occurred all spatial variations (Table 6). However, slight
along this coastline. The seasonal variations in the fluctuations were observed which may be due to local
seawater temperature showed similar pattern in all the environmental conditions. Veraval and Diu was
sampling sites (Tables 1 to 5). Seasonal fluctuations recorded high pH values (Tables 3 and 5), which may
in the water temperature were typical of this area20. be due to high anthropogenic activities in these two
The pH of water is important because many biological locations. Veraval is a highly industrialized shore
activities can occur only within narrow range21. Like where human interference to the coastline is high
Table 1Physico-chemical characteristics of seawater from Dwarka coast. Values expressed are mean ± SD.

Parameters Seasons
Winter Summer Monsoon Post-monsoon
o
Temperature ( C) 21.22 ± 0.06 25.71 ± 0.10 23.12 ± 0.06 25.16 ± 0.06
pH 8.16 ± 0.01 8.25 ± 0.01 8.23 ± 0.01 8.26 ± 0.01
Conductivity (mS/cm) 17.34 ± 0.07 17.51 ± 0.07 17.49 ± 0.08 17.58 ± 0.05
TS (g/l) 40.05 ± 0.14 40.69 ± 0.09 44.26 ± 0.12 43.56 ± 0.04
TDS (g/l) 39.92 ± 0.21 40.64 ± 0.09 44.20 ± 0.12 43.51 ± 0.04
Turbidity (NTU) 5.08 ± 0.05 5.12 ± 0.01 5.21 ± 0.01 5.18 ± 0.02
Salinity (%0) 32.64 ± 0.04 35.58 ± 0.07 34.31 ± 0.09 35.30 ± 0.08
DO (mg/l) 6.35 ± 0.02 5.67 ± 0.02 6.18 ± 0.03 6.22 ± 0.02
BOD (mg/l) 0.61 ± 0.03 0.64 ± 0.03 0.79 ± 0.03 0.76 ± 0.04
COD (mg/l) 1.01 ± 0.02 0.86 ± 0.02 0.91 ± 0.03 1.00 ± 0.02
Sulphide (mg/l) 0.22 ± 0.01 0.23 ± 0.01 0.26 ± 0.02 0.21 ± 0.01
Sulphate (g/l) 2.62 ± 0.01 2.75 ± 0.02 2.96 ± 0.01 2.75 ± 0.02
Calcium (g/l) 0.42 ± 0.01 0.42 ± 0.01 0.42 ± 0.00 0.43 ± 0.01
Magnesium (g/l) 1.33 ± 0.01 1.32 ± 0.01 1.33 ± 0.00 1.33 ± 0.01
Phosphate (mg/l) 0.07 ± 0.000 0.06 ± 0.001 0.08 ± 0.001 0.06 ± 0.001
Ammonia (mg/l) 0.02 ± 0.001 0.01 ± 0.000 0.02 ± 0.001 0.02 ± 0.001
Chlorophyll (mg/m3) 1.30 ± 0.018 1.10 ± 0.025 1.22 ± 0.014 1.19 ± 0.012
Phaeophytin (mg/m3) 0.14 ± 0.001 0.11 ± 0.002 0.13 ± 0.001 0.12 ± 0.001

Table 2Physico-chemical characteristics of seawater from Mangrol coast. Values expressed are mean ± SD

Parameters Seasons
Winter Summer Monsoon Post-monsoon
o
Temperature ( C) 21.22 ± 0.05 25.79 ± 0.05 23.47 ± 0.03 25.15 ± 0.07
pH 8.14 ± 0.00 8.30 ± 0.02 8.17 ± 0.02 8.22 ± 0.01
Conductivity (mS/cm) 17.23 ± 0.07 17.31 ± 0.05 17.39 ± 0.05 17.41 ± 0.04
TS (g/l) 39.56 ± 0.10 40.44 ± 0.12 45.41 ± 0.56 44.38 ± 0.12
TDS (g/l) 39.03 ± 0.13 39.61 ± 0.13 43.94 ± 0.15 43.89 ± 0.15
Turbidity (NTU) 4.47 ± 0.06 4.81 ± 0.05 5.03 ± 0.07 5.12 ± 0.05
Salinity (%0) 32.39 ± 0.06 35.24 ± 0.08 34.13 ± 0.08 34.73 ± 0.06
DO (mg/l) 6.17 ± 0.01 5.62 ± 0.04 6.10 ± 0.05 6.14 ± 0.02
BOD (mg/l) 0.62 ± 0.01 0.67 ± 0.02 0.95 ± 0.02 0.75 ± 0.02
COD (mg/l) 0.95 ± 0.02 0.95 ± 0.01 0.95 ± 0.03 0.93 ± 0.01
Sulphide (mg/l) 0.22 ± 0.02 0.18 ± 0.01 0.16 ± 0.01 0.22 ± 0.01
Sulphate (g/l) 2.87 ± 0.03 2.56 ± 0.03 3.22 ± 0.02 2.95 ± 0.04
Calcium (g/l) 0.43 ± 0.01 0.44 ± 0.01 0.45 ± 0.01 0.43 ± 0.00
Magnesium (g/l) 1.32 ± 0.01 1.34 ± 0.01 1.35 ± 0.01 1.33 ± 0.01
Phosphate (mg/l) 0.07 ± 0.001 0.06 ± 0.001 0.07 ± 0.002 0.06 ± 0.001
Ammonia (mg/l) 0.02 ± 0.001 0.01 ± 0.001 0.02 ± 0.001 0.02 ± 0.001
Chlorophyll (mg/m3) 1.30 ± 0.021 1.12 ± 0.047 1.23 ± 0.012 1.17 ± 0.019
Phaeophytin (mg/m3) 0.14 ± 0.001 0.10 ± 0.002 0.13 ± 0.001 0.12 ± 0.001
 BHADJA & KUNDU: SEAWATER QUALITY AT FEW INDUSTRIALLY IMPORTANT COASTS OF GUJARAT 93

Table 3Physico-chemical characteristics of seawater from Veraval coast. Values expressed are mean ± SD

Parameters Seasons
Winter Summer Monsoon Post-monsoon
Temperature (oC) 21.14 ± 0.08 25.83 ± 0.11 23.52 ± 0.07 25.28 ± 0.10
pH 8.20 ± 0.04 8.32 ± 0.06 8.20 ± 0.01 8.26 ± 0.02
Conductivity (mS/cm) 17.22 ± 0.05 17.31 ± 0.06 17.47 ± 0.05 17.32 ± 0.03
TS (g/l) 39.75 ± 0.15 40.71 ± 0.08 45.68 ± 0.59 44.29 ± 0.95
TDS (g/l) 39.31 ± 0.22 40.26 ± 0.10 44.82 ± 0.54 43.36 ± 0.43
Turbidity (NTU) 4.20 ± 0.08 4.62 ± 0.03 5.37 ± 0.06 5.01 ± 0.05
Salinity (%0) 32.47 ± 0.06 35.40 ± 0.08 34.19 ± 0.16 35.29 ± 0.10
DO (mg/l) 6.25 ± 0.02 5.64 ± 0.04 6.17 ± 0.07 6.38 ± 0.04
BOD (mg/l) 0.61 ± 0.02 0.81 ± 0.03 0.75 ± 0.03 0.65 ± 0.03
COD (mg/l) 1.00 ± 0.03 1.00 ± 0.04 0.91 ± 0.03 0.95 ± 0.02
Sulphide (mg/l) 0.22 ± 0.02 0.24 ± 0.02 0.22 ± 0.02 0.28 ± 0.02
Sulphate (g/l) 2.75 ± 0.03 2.77 ± 0.03 3.69 ± 0.02 3.06 ± 0.03
Calcium (g/l) 0.42 ± 0.01 0.41 ± 0.01 0.41 ± 0.01 0.41 ± 0.01
Magnesium (g/l) 1.33 ± 0.01 1.32 ± 0.00 1.32 ± 0.01 1.32 ± 0.00
Phosphate (mg/l) 0.07 ± 0.001 0.06 ± 0.001 0.07 ± 0.001 0.07 ± 0.002
Ammonia (mg/l) 0.02 ± 0.001 0.01 ± 0.000 0.02 ± 0.001 0.02 ± 0.000
Chlorophyll (mg/m3) 1.28 ± 0.013 1.12 ± 0.023 1.20 ± 0.005 1.16 ± 0.018
Phaeophytin (mg/m3) 0.13 ± 0.001 0.10 ± 0.002 0.13 ± 0.001 0.12 ± 0.001

Table 4Physico-chemical characteristics of seawater from Kodinar coast. Values expressed are mean ± SD.

Seasons
Parameters
Winter Summer Monsoon Post-monsoon
o
Temperature ( C) 21.17 ± 0.04 25.63 ± 0.09 23.28 ± 0.07 25.23 ± 0.08
pH 8.20 ± 0.01 8.27 ± 0.03 8.18 ± 0.02 8.22 ± 0.02
Conductivity (mS/cm) 17.23 ± 0.04 17.17 ± 0.05 17.31 ± 0.06 17.31 ± 0.06
TS (g/l) 40.59 ± 0.09 40.37 ± 0.32 43.79 ± 0.41 43.35 ± 0.11
TDS (g/l) 40.18 ± 0.18 40.27 ± 0.09 43.13 ± 0.15 42.82 ± 0.09
Turbidity (NTU) 4.52 ± 0.07 4.72 ± 0.08 5.00 ± 0.15 4.75 ± 0.13
Salinity (%0) 33.26 ± 0.06 35.36 ± 0.23 34.15 ± 0.08 34.56 ± 0.13
DO (mg/l) 6.14 ± 0.02 5.74 ± 0.03 6.12 ± 0.04 6.25 ± 0.03
BOD (mg/l) 0.92 ± 0.02 0.89 ± 0.05 0.48 ± 0.05 0.78 ± 0.06
COD (mg/l) 1.07 ± 0.07 0.97 ± 0.03 1.05 ± 0.11 1.00 ± 0.06
Sulphide (mg/l) 0.23 ± 0.03 0.22 ± 0.02 0.21 ± 0.01 0.23 ± 0.01
Sulphate (g/l) 3.11 ± 0.14 2.81 ± 0.06 3.20 ± 0.15 3.37 ± 0.08
Calcium (g/l) 0.43 ± 0.00 0.43 ± 0.01 0.41 ± 0.01 0.42 ± 0.01
Magnesium (g/l) 1.32 ± 0.01 1.33 ± 0.00 1.32 ± 0.00 1.32 ± 0.00
Phosphate (mg/l) 0.07 ± 0.001 0.06 ± 0.002 0.07 ± 0.002 0.06 ± 0.002
Ammonia (mg/l) 0.02 ± 0.001 0.01 ± 0.001 0.02 ± 0.001 0.02 ± 0.001
Chlorophyll (mg/m3) 1.28 ± 0.026 1.09 ± 0.020 1.19 ± 0.009 1.16 ± 0.015
Phaeophytin (mg/m3) 0.13 ± 0.001 0.10 ± 0.002 0.13 ± 0.001 0.12 ± 0.001

throughout the year. Diu, on the other hand, is a
seasonal tourist centre where the human activity
reaches to its maximum during winter months7. The
pH was low during the peak monsoon season
probably due to the influence of freshwater influx,
dilution of saline water, reduction of salinity and
temperature, and decomposition of organic matter22.
The conductivity values of seawater from the
sampling sites showed statistically significant spatial
and temporal variations (Table 6). This may be due to
the varying degrees of suspended solids present in
different locations. It was evident that Dwarka, Diu
94 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 41, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 2012

Table 5Physico-chemical characteristics of seawater from Diu coast. Values expressed are mean ± SD.

Seasons
Parameters
Winter Summer Monsoon Post-monsoon
o
Temperature ( C) 21.09 ± 0.07 25.59 ± 0.10 23.07 ± 0.08 25.06 ± 0.08
pH 8.39 ± 0.12 8.23 ± 0.01 8.24 ± 0.01 8.20 ± 0.10
Conductivity (mS/cm) 17.28 ± 0.09 17.46 ± 0.07 17.42 ± 0.05 17.52 ± 0.03
TS (g/l) 39.80 ± 0.08 40.43 ± 0.23 44.12 ± 0.31 43.66 ± 0.14
TDS (g/l) 39.27 ± 0.12 39.97 ± 0.27 43.33 ± 0.31 43.24 ± 0.11
Turbidity (NTU) 4.03 ± 0.04 4.50 ± 0.04 5.30 ± 0.06 5.14 ± 0.04
Salinity (%0) 32.22 ± 0.07 34.14 ± 0.06 33.04 ± 0.08 32.97 ± 0.11
DO (mg/l) 6.08 ± 0.02 5.71 ± 0.01 6.04 ± 0.06 6.05 ± 0.03
BOD (mg/l) 0.62 ± 0.14 0.61 ± 0.04 0.78 ± 0.02 0.74 ± 0.05
COD (mg/l) 0.95 ± 0.06 0.86 ± 0.04 0.96 ± 0.02 1.00 ± 0.04
Sulphide (mg/l) 0.21 ± 0.02 0.19 ± 0.01 0.22 ± 0.01 0.20 ± 0.01
Sulphate (g/l) 2.73 ± 0.04 2.77 ± 0.03 3.32 ± 0.01 2.77 ± 0.01
Calcium (g/l) 0.44 ± 0.00 0.44 ± 0.01 0.41 ± 0.01 0.43 ± 0.00
Magnesium (g/l) 1.33 ± 0.01 1.33 ± 0.01 1.32 ± 0.01 1.33 ± 0.01
Phosphate (mg/l) 0.07 ± 0.003 0.06 ± 0.004 0.08 ± 0.004 0.07 ± 0.002
Ammonia (mg/l) 0.02 ± 0.0004 0.02 ± 0.0004 0.02 ± 0.0004 0.02 ± 0.0003

and Mangrol the conductivity was high compare to that Table 6Results of ANOVA of the mean values of the
seawater parameters for spatial variations. '*' sign denotes
of other two stations (Tables 1 to 5). In all these three
significant at P = 0.05 level.
stations the tidal activity was found to be very high due
to their uneven rocky substratum and steep slope of Parameters Calculated F value
subtidal shelf. The shores of these areas are calcareous, Temperature °c 0.00101
uneven, and full of small pools and puddles with pH 0.54357
occasional sandy and muddy patches. The rough tidal Conductivity mS/cm 3.60301*
activity possibly increased the solid levels which TS g/l 0.05031
probably been responsible for the variations in the TDS g/l 0.05194
conductivity values7. Conductivity value of each Turbidity NTU 0.77242
station was much higher in monsoon season due to Salinity ℅o 0.77837
facing strong wave action of Arabian Sea and effects of DO mg/l 0.21115
monsoon wind. Boyd23 suggested that the fluctuation in BOD mg/l 0.28831
electric conductivity was due to fluctuation in total COD mg/l 1.80615
dissolved solids and salinity. Significant variation Sulphide mg/l 2.73802
Sulphate g/l 0.96897
found in case of conductivity between sampling
Calcium g/l 3.91477*
stations with positive correlation coefficient (r) values
Magnesium g/l 2.53517
among conductivity and total dissolved solids at
Phosphate mg/l 0.13446
Dwarka (0.658), Mangrol (0.942), Veraval (0.882),
Ammonia mg/l 0.79036
Kodinar (0.947) and Diu (0.613). The relation between Chlorophyll mg/m3 0.11429
total dissolved solid and electric conductivity is a Phaeophytin mg/m3 0.05391
function of the type and nature of the dissolved cations
and anions in the water24. Other physical parameters between TS, TDS and turbidity. Maximum turbidity
like total solids, total dissolved solids and turbidity in observed in monsoon and post-monsoon seasons
the seawater however, did not show any statistically possibly due to rainwater runoff during south-west
significant spatial and temporal variations between the monsoon season prevailing in this area20.
coasts (Table 6) but, high values were observed in In the chemical parameters, salinity levels did not
Dwarka and Diu (Tables 1 and 5). The statistical show any statistically significant spatial and temporal
analysis also revealed strong positive correlation variations in any of the sampling sites (Table 6). This
 BHADJA & KUNDU: SEAWATER QUALITY AT FEW INDUSTRIALLY IMPORTANT COASTS OF GUJARAT
may be due the fact the sampling sites are actually
open shore where much fluctuations do not occur. The
salinity of Diu (Table 5) was found to be lower
possibly due to dilution of incoming seawater with
freshwater rivulets near the sampling area. Similar
trend was observed in case of DO, BOD and COD
(Tables 1 to 5). The observed DO was above 5 mg/l
which is also reported earlier in the Arabian Sea25 and
in Gulf of Kachchh26. The DO was lower during
summer when the temperature was high and
maximum during post-monsoon and winter when the
temperature was low and high tidal activity due to
windy monsoon conditions27. With the DO level
beyond 5 mg/l level the BOD and COD would be
minimum28, which was reflected in the study. The
inverse relationship between temperature and DO29
and between salinity and DO30 are a natural process.
The macro nutrients like sulphide and sulphate levels
(Tables 1 to 5) showed slight variations from place to
place depending on their locations, coast
characteristics and population levels. Calcium levels
showed statistically significant spatial variations
(Table 6) may be due to the characteristics of
substratum and the level of intertidal population.
However, levels of macro nutrients were found to be
high in Veraval, Kodinar and Diu (Tables 3, 4 and 5)
where human interference to the coast is relatively
high. Ascending degree of pollution from domestic
sewage, industrial effluent and port and fishing
activities might have enhanced levels of macro
nutrients of these areas27 than the relatively
undisturbed coasts of Mangrol and Dwarka.
Biological parameters chlorophyll and phaeophytin
did not show statistically significant spatial and
temporal variations (Table 6). Higher values were
observed in relatively less human interfered sampling
sites like Mangrol and Dwarka (Tables 1 and 2), and
low values were obtained from highly industrialized
sampling sites Veraval and Kodinar (Tables 3 and 4).
Higher chlorophyll concentration in the northern
Arabian Sea is attributed with the winter cooling
phenomena31. The obtained correlation coefficient
values between temperature and chlorophyll (-0.944),
and between temperature and phaeophytin (-0.896)
showed negative relationship in all the shores studied.
Salinity also had a significant negative correlation
with chlorophyll (-0.931) and phaeophytin (-0.852)
whereas, chlorophyll showed very strong positive
correlation with phaeophytin (0.975). The dissolved
oxygen levels had very significant positive correlation
95
with both chlorophyll (0.916) and phaeophytin
(0.941).
The results clearly indicate a very healthy seawater
condition at Dwarka. In case of Mangrol which is
another relatively unaffected area showed similar
correlation coefficient values like Dwarka. This
coastline is free from any anthropogenic pressure
which is reflected from its water quality parameters.
At Veraval, negative correlation were found between
pH and chlorophyll (-0.887) and phaeophytin
(-0.985), whereas, positive correlation between
conductivity and TDS (0.897), turbidity (0.947) and
sulphate (0.948) clearly indicating anthropogenically
affected water quality status. The physico-chemical
parameters at Kodinar which is also affected by
anthropogenic pressure in the form of industrial run
off showed similar pattern like Veraval. The results
also indicated that presence of sulphate which
influenced the water quality parameters significantly.
The results suggested moderately influenced water
quality at Kodinar compared to that of Dwarka and
Mangrol. In case of Diu, water quality parameters
showed less correlation between them indicating
relatively less human interference in the coastline.
Cluster analysis was applied through a dendrogram to
find out the similarity groups between the sampling
stations (Fig. 2), grouping all the five sampling
stations into three statistically meaningful clusters.
The two stations (Kodinar and Veraval) form cluster 1
which comprises relatively high anthropogenically
influenced sites that receive waste from industries,
domestic sewage and fisheries related activities.
Cluster 2 includes cluster 1 and station Mangrol that
was resemble to almost one another. Mangrol
sampling site corresponds to moderately influenced
sites.
Conclusion
The water quality of the coastal regimes of Dwarka
and Mangrol was almost near to the ideal conditions
possibly due to absence of any significant
anthropogenic impact on the coast. Whereas at
Veraval and Kodinar, the water quality was indicative
of high degree of anthropogenic impact. The
condition of Kodinar coast however, was not as
anthropogenically influenced as Veraval as indicated
by correlation coefficient test. This trend was
somewhat similar in case of Diu, which is
predominantly seasonal tourist centre with limited
anthropogenic activities.
96 INDIAN J. MAR. SCI., VOL. 41, NO. 1, FEBRUARY 2012
Fig. 2Dendrogram plot showing similarity in the seawater quality between the selected coasts
Acknowledgements
Present study was supported by UGC, Govt. of
India and part of a major research oriented
programme of Govt. of Gujarat (India).
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