Even as the Supreme Court has issued a stay on the works of the Shiv Smarak, fishermen and marine experts have expressed fear that the memorial will destroy rich coral varieties, thus violating the Indian Wildlife Protection Act." However, the apex court on January 11 directed that construction of the memorial be stopped. The memorial will come up at 1. During low tide, fishermen will be unable to take boats into the sea even at a distance of 500 metre.The project will also affect fishing activities near the coast, according to them. "The proposed site for the memorial includes a rocky patch where immense coral  and marine life. The state government has appointed L&T for the construction of the Shiv Smarak, the memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea.Marine expert Pradip Patade China Weld Stud Nuts Factory alleged that the state government was turning a blind eye tow-ards the preliminary environmental assessment study carried out for the project.Damodar Tandel from the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti said "Fishing has been banned within 500 metres of Cuffe Parade and Raj Bhavan area.2 km from Raj Bhavan. The project will also affect fishing activities near the coast, according to them."Mr Tandel said "We are not against the Shiv Smarak, but are opposing to the site selected at Nariman Point.The state government has appointed L&T for the construction of the Shiv Smarak, the memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the Arabian Sea. The preliminary survey by the Central Marine Fishe-ries Research Institute has revealed that the project will lead to elimination of several protected marine species," he said