Friends of Marine Life (FML), based in Thiruvananthapuram, has asked the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) and Forest department to urgently protect a newly found underwater ecosystem between Adimalathura and Poovar. FML, working with SCUBA Cochin, documented this rich marine habitat. FML chief Robert Panipilla said, "This is an underwater rocky habitat which is rich in fish wealth known to local fishers as ‘Panthakallu.’ The fish diversity assessment by FML has revealed the presence of over 30 families of reef fishes." The ecosystem lies 15 meters deep and includes turtles, corals, sea sponges, bryozoans, hydrozoans, molluscs, feather stars, and tube worms. Two local fishers from Poovar, Siluvakurissu and Dawilson, helped guide the researchers during the study. Mr. Panipilla stressed the need for KSBB and the Forest department to protect this valuable marine biodiversity. The area lies due west of Kochuthura, between Adimalathura and Poovar.