There appears to be a total absence of ramose corals, and Acropora , Pocillopora , Stylophora and Seriatopora have not been found, although semi-fossilised Acropora fragments occur in the sand bars. Millepora , Heliopora and Tubipora are also absent. As a result there is a diverse avifauna and the Gulf is a wintering ground for vast numbers of waders and for Greater Phoenicopterus ruber roseus and Lesser P. minor Flamingoes. The Dugong Dugong dugon is possibly extinct in the area. The coral reefs themselves are noteworthy on account of their isolation as they are the most northerly reefs in the Indian Ocean by about 1000 km.
Research is conducted on shellfish and prawn farming.
There is little research on the biology of other commercial species or on controlling exploitation of stocks, apart from pearl oysters. Pirotan Island has been used by WWF-India since 1978 as a site for nature education camps for school children, subsidised by the State Wildlife Department. Some 5000 mangrove seedlings were planted by participants at the 1981-82 camp. Aspects such as tourism, which could yield revenue, are not being strongly promoted at present. However, the area receives a number of visitors and natural history tours are undertaken.