Wildlife SOS introduces a new series “Things You Didn’t Know About” that explores fascinating and lesser-known facts about nature. Our writers will spotlight one aspect of the wild, unveiling its unique characteristics and roles in the ecosystem. In this feature, we take a tour of the home that supports several aquatic animals — seashells.
A seashell is a hard exoskeleton used by soft-bodied marine animals like a snail, slug, or mussel. These animals, called molluscs, find seashells handy for multiple purposes: it serves as a safe home, a place to hide from predators, and a protective latching point for their muscles which helps them navigate the expansive ocean. Interestingly, as a mollusc grows, its seashell grows as well, creating circular patterns that are visually similar to tree rings. Counting these rings can provide the estimated age of the mollusc inhabiting the shell!
There’s much more to the seashell story. After having served as secure shelters for molluscs, abandoned seashells give refuge to hermit crabs as well. These invertebrate crabs find protection by coiling up their bodies within the spiral interiors of seashells. Seashells also allow algae, seagrass, sponges, and numerous microorganisms to cling to them. Larger aquatic animals like decorator crabs and octopuses use shells to effectively camouflage, while many fish hide in them to escape predators.
Seashells are largely made up of calcium carbonate. Those that are washed ashore play a vital role in preventing shorelines and its sediments from eroding. As seashells disintegrate, they restore the calcareous element that comprises sand on beaches, thereby sustaining the size of the shore.
Threats
Despite their contribution towards ecological balance, seashells are increasingly threatened by illicit trade, ocean pollution, and the unnatural rise in carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere. The latter has resulted in ocean acidification, which critically impacts the existence of seashells underwater. Human endorsed activities have led to an increase of carbon concentration in the atmosphere. Oceans have, as a result, begun to absorb more and more CO2, triggering a series of adverse chemical reactions. While hydrogen ions continue to elevate, carbonate ions, used by several organisms to create and maintain their calcified shells, are highly declining in the ocean water.
The booming tourism industry also has exacerbated the problem, as the seemingly harmless act of picking numerous seashells from the beach (beachcombing) has significantly reduced their number, owing to the numerous tourists indulging in the activity. This scarcity of natural shells has forced hermit crabs to resort to using discarded plastic objects, such as bottle caps and toothpaste lids — a sad consequence of overlooking how valuable seashells are for the survival of this species.
Many remain unaware that trading seashells extracted from the ocean bed is illegal in India, and can land the seller in prison. Just like corals, the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 (WPA) safeguards seashell species, and penalties for selling their exoskeletons includes fines and imprisonment. Despite these regulations, inconsistent enforcement allows the continued open sale of seashells in not just in the coastal towns of Chennai, Goa, Somnath, and Kanyakumari, but in the rest of the country as well.
The loophole in the WPA protection of seashells is that it limits the number of seashell species that it safeguards. Out of nearly 3,400 species of marine molluscs found in India, only 24 are legally protected from trade and exploitation. Another challenge is to correctly identify the species seized by ground-level enforcement authorities so that perpetrators do not get off scot-free.
India’s tourism market thrives on the demand for seashell accessories such as combs, lampshades, wooden frames, wreaths and other decorative objects. TRAFFIC’s research reveals that between 2009 and 2019, seashells of over 97,000 kg were seized from across India. To satisfy this overbearing demand for seashells and corals, fishermen and traders scoop out large quantities of these from the ocean floor each day. These include the ones that are alive and growing. The seashells are boiled or treated with acid to get rid of any marine organism inside them, before they are being polished for sale. Trawlers, a type of boat used for fishing with attached fishnets, also end up trapping large quantities of seashells while fishing for another species. Experts suggest that owing to the increase in number of trawlers over the years, the amount of seashells being dredged up from the ocean floor has significantly increased.
The rampant collection of seashells has severely disrupted the delicate balance of marine ecosystems. While pearl oyster farming is being carried out excessively with no restrictions imposed, the sacred chank, too, has seen a surge in demand, particularly in West Bengal and Odisha. Meanwhile, the windowpane oyster, despite being safeguarded by the the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972, is still being harvested in large quantities in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra, where it remains a crucial source of livelihood for local fishing communities.
Efforts by Wildlife SOS
While the seashell trade in India continues due to high demand and lax law enforcement practices, it poses significant challenges to conservation efforts. Wildlife SOS actively combats the illegal trade and trafficking of wildlife, including birds, mammals, and reptiles, as well as pelts, bones, and other body parts that have been obtained from poached animals. The organisation’s anti-poaching unit, Forest Watch, operates through an extensive network of informants who gather crucial intelligence on poachers and criminals involved in the illicit wildlife trade. This squad collaborates with the forest department, police, and other law enforcement agencies to apprehend traffickers and smugglers. Their efforts have led to the recovery of animal skins, body parts, ivory, and sometimes even live animals.
Additionally, Wildlife SOS provides legal assistance when necessary to support lawful apprehensions. Recently in January 2024, based on extensive intelligence from the Wildlife SOS-GSPCA team, the squad conducted a raid near the Trimbakeshwar temple in Nashik, Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Forest Department and WCCB executed the operation, successfully seizing 92 pieces of black coral (Antipatharians), a large number of seashells, and 34 monitor lizard hemipenes.
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