India's coastline is over 7500 km long, of which around 5400 km is in mainland and over 2000 km is in the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. India's coastline supports more than 30% of its population. Coastal fisheries are linked to economic and environmental health. Coastal vegetation habitats are important for the health of coastal ecological systems through their modulation of land-ocean modulation, providing nutrients for marine life, supporting biodiversity and preventing salt intrusion into ground water. Well managed coastal beaches can also promote sustainable economic development such as ports and tourism.
A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is essentially a space in the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters - similar to national parks on land. MPAs are given special protections for natural or historic marine resources by local, state, territorial, native, regional, or national authorities.
The MPA network has been used as a tool to manage natural marine resources for biodiversity conservation and for the well being of people dependent on it. MPAs are essential to safeguard biodiversity and to sustain vibrant seas and can increase biomass and biodiversity in tropical and temperate ecosystems. They help in increasing resilience against impacts of fishing and other activities that affect habitats. Scientific monitoring and traditional observations confirm that depleted natural marine resources are getting restored and/or pristine ecological conditions have been sustained in well managed MPAs.
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the nodal ministry for MPAs in India.
In India there are 25 protected areas in the mainland and 106 in the islands. Detailed information in this regard is available at the website of the Environmental Information Centre (ENVIS) for Wildlife and Protected Areas under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change at (http://www.wiienvis.nic.in/). The list is regularly updated.
The designation and maintenance of these MPAs represent India's commitment to contribute to the maintenance and conservation of marine biological diversity and abundance which are relevant to sustainable fisheries and maintenance of coastal processes.
Progress reports
By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans
Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels
By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information
Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in UNCLOS, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of The Future We Want
Ongoing
In India there are 25 protected areas in the mainland and 106 in the islands.
Ongoing
The designation and maintenance of these MPAs represent India's commitment to contribute to the maintenance and conservation of marine biological diversity and abundance which are relevant to sustainable fisheries and maintenance of coastal processes.
In-kind contribution
Cash and Kind including Technical expertise
Basic information
Time-frame: Ongoing - Ongoing
Partners
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change ( Government) , Ministry of Earth Sciences (Government), All Coastal States of India ( Government)
Ocean Basins
Beneficiary countries
Other beneficaries
Contact information
Tanmaya Lal, Ambassador , Deputy Permanent Representative , dpr.newyorkpmi@mea.gov.in, +12124900327
Permanent Mission of India, New York , USA
Other SDGs
