The forest personnel seized live and dead corals from an ornamental fish trader here on Saturday and released the live corals in the sea later.
Sources in the Gulf of Mannar Bio Reserve Trust said raid was conducted in the shop of an ornamental fish trader in Mahizhchipuram on Anna Nagar 6th Street here on Saturday following information about the selling of banned live corals there.
Since trading of live corals has been banned by Wildlife Act 1972, the raid was conducted and 40 brain corals, 10 stag-horn corals, 10 sponges and 20 fan-shaped corals, all live, and dead corals in three bags were seized by Forest Range Officer Raghuvaran and his team.
While the live corals, all kept in plastic bathtubs, were taken in a boat and released in the sea.
The forest personnel have picked-up three persons in this connection.