28 August,2026 09:22 AM IST | Mumbai | Devashish Kamble
Participants at a previous shorewalk in Haji Ali. PICS COURTESY/MLOM
Every September, nature enthusiasts prepare to meet Mumbai's vibrant sea slugs, anemone, and sponge species after a seasonal break. This year's monsoon, or the lack of it, has rained on their schedule. "The erratic rains have opened the season early, and we begin with a walk in Haji Ali. Over the years, the spot has become our favourite," says Shaunak Modi, director of the Coastal Conservation Foundation.
ON August 30; 6.15 am
AT Haji Ali (meeting point revealed on registration)
LOG ON TO @marinelifeofmumbai
>> The rising and receding tides form shallow pools in the intertidal zones on Mumbai's shores
>> Fascinating creatures like corals, bright slugs, and anemones make these pools their temporary home
>> Explorers study the tides and plan a visit to catch a glimpse of this microcosm up close
Shaunak Modi
>> The Haji Ali shore's easy terrain makes it ideal for beginners
>> Roofed structures nearby offer shelter in cases of surprise showers
>> One of the most diverse shores with corals, slugs, crabs, and more. The Bombayana Slug was spotted here in 2018, 72 years after its last sighting.
>> Many of Mumbai's staple fish species face a direct threat if the intertidal zones, where they lay eggs, are lost
>> Marine animals like the much-loved Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphins depend on tidepool organisms for sustenance
>> Small-scale fisherfolk depend on these zones for catch
While Mumbaikars continue the fight for green cover, Shaunak Modi urges us to not ignore intertidal zones. "The recent coastal infrastructural revamp saw much of the Haji Ali-Mahalaxmi shore being reclaimed. These were sea slug havens. A rocky shore hosts nearly 100 animals per square meter. Much of these were buried alive. Irrespective of whether these creatures benefit human life, we must raise our voices for our intertidal neighbours," he points out.
