Transcript Document

COUNTRY REPORT ON
STATUS OF CORAL REEFS
INDIA
IN
ICRI GENERAL MEETING
25th-27th APRIL, 2005
MAHE, SEYCHELLES
CORAL REEFS IN INDIA
• The coastline of over 7500 km and sub-tropical
climatic conditions characterized by distributed,
and limited sites of coral reefs along the East and
West Coast.
• Total coral reef area in India approximately 2375
sq. kms., maximal areas being in Anadman and
Nicobar Islands followed by Lakshadweep,
Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu.
• All the three major reef type, viz. Atoll, Fringing
and Barrier occur in India.
Contd/-
CORAL REEFS IN INDIA
• Some of the most diverse, extensive, least
disturbed, and least scientifically known reef
areas found in the region.
• The most northerly reefs in the world are in Gulf
of Kutch in the North West of the country.
• A&N Islands have fringing reefs around many
islands.
Contd/-
CORAL REEFS IN INDIA
• Lakshadweep on the Western coast of the
country has extensive reefs.
• 199 coral species divided among 71 genera
recorded from India; a recent UNDP-GEF under
water study by ZSI reported 235 species of
corals, with an indication of its increase upto
400 species.
• Among the coral reef-associated fauna are
Sponges, Crustacea, Mollusca, Echinoderms,
and a whole range of fishes, and marine
mammals and reptiles including turtles and
dugongs.
VALUE OF CORAL
REEFS
IN
`
INDIA
The direct and indirect uses comprise :
• 25% of the total fish catch, and 75% of the
animal protein from reefs.
• Minimization of erosion and coastal hazards.
• Educational and Scientific Value, representing
a complex food web, and trophic organisation.
• Havens for biodiversity.
• Reservoirs of genetic resources.
• Providers of pharmaceutical and medicinal
compounds from their associated organisms
like sea cucumbers, sponges, gorgonians, and
star fishes.
• Symbols of heritage.
Threats
Natural stresses

Storms,
waves,
cyclones,
tsunamic
occurrences.
Biotic Stresses

Sedimentation

Chemical and Oil Pollution

Bleaching

Coral Diseases

Destructive fishing practices like blast fishing
and trap fishing.
Coral Reefs Conservation and
Management Strategy
Recognising that of the 33 known phyla of the world’s
biota, 32 are marine, and 15 of them exclusively so,
India follows a package of Regulatory and
Promotional
measures
for
conservation
and
management of coral reefs.
Regulatory Measures
• Legislative/Regulatory Instruments
-The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 : All Reef-building, Black,
Organpipe, Fire and Sea Fan Corals put in Schedule-I of the Act
(Prohibited from exploitation)
-Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 : Section 5 of the Act
delegates powers to State Governments, and UTs for taking
punitive action.
-Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 : Places corals,
coral reefs, and marine parks in Coastal Regulation ZoneI(i), i.e,
ecologically sensitive, and important areas.
Constitutes National Coastal Zone Management Authority
(NCZMA) at the Centre, and 13 CZMAs at States/Union
Territories.
Regulatory Measures
-All major projects within coastal zone require CRZ
clearance on the same lines as environmental
clearance. Concept of continuous monitoring of the
reef environment introduced in the recently cleared
harbours projects in Lakshadweep.
-Active judicial system – Supreme Court’s Order in
April, 1996 in WP 664 of 1993 led to formulation of
ICZMPs.
• Establishment of Marine National Parks (MNPs)
- Six MNPs viz. Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch,
Bhitarkanika, Mahatma Gandhi Wandoor National Park,
Rani Jhansi MNP, and Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary
declared as MNPs, the largest being the Gulf of Mannar
having 10,500 sq. kms.
Promotional Measures
The promotional measures comprise –
- Central Government assistance for bio-physical, and socioeconomic survey and monitoring, surveillance, alternative
livelihoods, prevention of pollution, restoration, and spread
of education, and awareness.
- Infrastructure creation e.g. National Coral Reef Research
Station, and Lakshadweep Coral Reef Monitoring Network.
- Capacity Building viz. imparting training in snorkeling, and
SCUBA-diving; about 60 personnel given training.
- Support given for Research – the Centre of Advanced
Study in Marine Biology, Annamalai University, Centre and
Marine and Coastal Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University,
National Institute of Oceanography; Goa, Wildlife Institute
of India, among various Institutions engaged in coral reef
research.
Regional and Inter-National Ties
India is a signatory to various Conventions /
Agreements :
- Convention
Protocol.
on
Bio-diversity
and
its
Bio-safety
- Convention on International Trade on Endangered
Species (CITES)
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC) and its Kyoto Protocol.
- Jakarta mandate on Coastal and Marine Biodiversity.
Designation of Ministry of
Environment & Forests as National
Focal Point
-
Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)
International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI)
Coral Reef Degradation in Indian Ocean (CORDIO)
United Nations Environment Programme on
Conservation, and Management of Coral Reefs.
- Regional Seas Programme.
- SACEP