Marine Species Conservation
The Government has taken various important steps for the conservation of marine species which includes the following:
- A network of protected areas across the Coastal States and Islands of the country has been created for the conservation of marine species under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Many threatened marine species have been listed in Schedule I and II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 providing them protection against hunting.
- The Ministry has amended Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 to empower Indian Coast Guards for entry, search, arrest and detention in case of contravention of provisions of the Act.
- The Ministry has released a National Marine Turtle Action Plan with the aim to conserve marine turtles and their habitats in India.
- The Ministry has released ‘Marine Megafauna Stranding Management Guidelines’ in 2021 for management of stranding and entanglement of marine megafauna.
- The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification,2019, promulgated under Environment (Protection) Act 1986, has specific focus on conservation and management plans of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), like Mangroves, Sea grasses, Sand dunes, Corals and Coral reefs, Biologically active mudflats, Turtle nesting grounds, and Horseshoe crabs’ habitats.
- The Ministry provides financial assistance to States/UTs under the Centrally sponsored Scheme ‘Development of Wildlife Habitats’ for conservation of wildlife including marine fauna and its habitat.
- The Ministry is granting funds under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes to maritime States for the conservation of corals and mangroves.
- The Ministry under the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority provides funding support for conservation of dugongs and their habitats.
Reference : PIB