The first of its kind initiative to prepare an atlas of all the coral reefs of the world by Space Applications (SAC) Centre in Ahmedabad has found that the coral reef cover of Gujarat has eroded more than 23.2% over the past two decades mainly due to the impact of human activity.

The atlas called 'Coral Reef Atlas of the World' maps the coral reefs and also gives their health reports. The Atlas includes detailed review of the health of the coral reefs in the Central Indian Ocean along with coral reefs else where.

The atlas shows maps indicating the extent, distribution and habitat of coral reefs to access its health. The Atlas found that the coral reefs of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands have recovered from the effects of tsunami of 2004.

The coral reef of the Gulf of Gujarat has the highest concentration of corals along all of mainland India. The atlas covers the coral reefs of India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives and the British Indian Ocean Territory.