Marine Protected Areas in India : Coastal Wetland Conservation

Extensive coastlines of India support large area of coastal wetlands, which has been estimated at over 40,230 km². Among various types of coastal wetlands, tidal mudflats, mangroves, estuaries, lagoons, beaches, marshes, vegetated wetlands and coral reefs have major share. A total of 97 major estuaries, 34 major lagoons, 31 mangroves areas and 5 coral reef areas have been mapped and identified, which are important for conservation and sustainable use. Management plan for conservation of mangroves and coral reefs, enactment of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act 1991, establishing Indian Coral Reef Monitoring Network and declaring network of sanctuaries, national parks and biosphere reserves in marine environment are some of the important initiatives taken by the Government of India for their conservation. There are a total of 31 Marine Protected Areas in India, which are located primarily in marine environment. These 31 MPAs (33 sanctuaries and national parks) cover a total area of 6,271.2 km² with an average size of 202.1 km². East coast and Andaman & Nicobar Islands have adequate area under the MPA whereas west coast and Lakshadweep Islands have poor representation. Although, India has very long coastal line and varied coastal habitats, contribution of the MPAs is only 4.0 % to the total area of the PAs and 1.3 % of continental shelf area of the country, which is relatively below the world average. During over last two decades, wildlife conservation programmes have developed and evolved, but management of MPAs is yet to reach its maturity. The common issues and problems that need to be tackled urgently for ensuring an effective management set up of MPAs of the country are: legal issues, including settlement and demarcation of boundaries; inadequate management and protection infrastructure; inadequate scientific and technical person in management; absence of scientific management plans for majority of the MPAs; uncontrolled exploitation of fishes, prawns, crabs, corals, shells and sea algae etc; increasing use of the areas for ports and jetties, loading and unloading oflarge ships and oil tankers; discharge of pollutants; expansion of salt and aquaculture ponds.