Andaman & Nicobar Islands situated in the Bay of Bengal between 6o45′ -13 45′ N and 92o10′ – 94o15′E, consist of 352 islands 220 islets, rock and cover a distance of almost 470 km over North South, have a coastline of 1962 km, and bring in for India an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 600 thousand sq km. The shelf topography of these islands show frequent rises supporting coral reefs, which are characterized as fringing reefs on the eastern side and barrier reefs off west coast; the depressions are known as passages and straits. Besides coral reefs, the shore is composed of rocky and sandy areas and vast stretches of Mangrove swamps.
