Traditionally, Indian coastal waters have been dominated by diatoms, unicellular algae found in the oceans, waterways, and soils worldwide. Diatoms are vital because they form the base of the food chain, feeding the fish that humans eat. The study indicates a modest positive correlation between the number of dams built and the frequency of these blooms. Noctiluca blooms can cause massive fish kills and disrupt the food chains on which coastal communities rely for their livelihoods. Diatoms are heavy and sink quickly when they die, effectively pumping carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into the deep ocean.