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The Indian coastline supports almost 30% of its human
population being dependent on the rich exploitable coastal and
marine resources. The Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sea
continue to be a rich fishing ground in the South Asian region
and India contributes to be the 7th largest marine fishing
nation in the world. The Indian coastline also supports the
World’s largest mangrove in Sundarban and the rich coral
formations of Andaman Nicobar, Lakshadweep, Gulf of Kuthch and
Gulf of Mannar.
The off shore river basins along the east coast on India are
the repository of natural gas and oil. The Arabian Sea and the
Bay of Bengal continue to be the major maritime route for Sea
trade in the South Asian Region.
While for the terrestrial ecosystem, there has been the Forest
Conservation Policy, Protected Area network and Biodiversity
Conservation Action Plan, for the marine environment the
conservation management focus has not yet been significant.
Keeping this in view the Ministry of Environment & Forests is
proposing to organize a “National Seminar on Conservation and
Management of Marine Biodiversity”, wherein all stakeholder
agencies, intelligentsia, Govt. and non governmental
organizations, universities and also the marine conservation
management agencies of the neighbouring countries of the
Indian Ocean region will participate to develop a pragmatic
and workable Marine Conservation Action Plan for India.
The Ministry of Surface transport, Agriculture, Environment
and Forest, Science and Technology, Commerce and Department of
Ocean Development are the very stakeholders in the marine
environments of India.
India is also a signatory to various International instruments
and conventions related to the marine environment, notable of
which are the UNCLOS, IWC, CBD, CMS, Tuna Commission,
International Oceanographic Commission, Antarctica treaty etc.
and therefore, has an obligation to develop proper
conservation and management of the marine habitat and its
management.
Visit the
Environmental Information System (ENVIS) Centre on
"Wildlife and Protected Areas" at WII also publishes a
bi-annual bulletin on different conservation themes for
dissemination of scientific information to a large number of
users.
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