Recent gorgonid resources of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, India

The colourful seafans have been objects of attraction to man and because of aesthetic reasons theseanimals have been collected all over the world. The discovery of prostaglandins in gorgonids and theiruse in drug manufacturing industry have led to the detailed study on this resource in Gulf of Mannar by CMFRI during 1980-'87. Subsequently, several samples collected during FORV Sagar Sampada cruises were also studied.