Keralam ELSA-3 Wreck Study to Track Nurdle Pollution in Thoothukudi Waters
The TNPCB has tasked SDMRI in Thoothukudi with short-term and two-year studies on nurdle pollution and ecological impacts after the May 2025 Keralam ELSA-3 shipwreck.
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has commissioned a two-track scientific assessment of the ecological fallout from the Keralam ELSA-3 shipwreck, which occurred in May 2025. The studies are being carried out by the Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute (SDMRI) in Thoothukudi.
The investigation has been split into a rapid, short-term impact assessment and a longer-term study running for two years. The arrangement is intended to capture both the immediate effects of the accident and the slower ecological changes that may unfold over a longer period.
Findings so far point to persistent nurdle pollution in the affected marine environment, alongside ecological impacts that continue to evolve. Nurdles are small plastic pellets that are difficult to recover once dispersed in the sea.
The two-year timeline indicates that the assessment will not be limited to the initial aftermath of the wreck. It will track how pollution and its effects on marine ecosystems change over time, providing a basis for understanding the durability of the damage.
Thoothukudi, where the SDMRI is based, lies on the Gulf of Mannar coast, a region known for its marine biodiversity. The choice of a local research institution places the study close to the site of the accident and the waters under scrutiny.