- In addition, 106 coastal and marine sites have been identified and prioritized as Important Coastal and Marine Biodiversity Areas (ICMBAs) to take care of marine species conservation.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019
- 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, Seagrasses, Sand dunes, Corals and Coral reefs, biologically active mudflats, Turtle nesting grounds, and Horseshoe crabs’ habitats and prohibit developmental activities and disposal of wastes in the fragile coastal ecosystems.
- Many threatened marine species have been listed as Scheduled animals in Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972.
- Currently, the Government of India has prioritized some of the rare and threatened marine species such as the marine turtles (all 5 species), humpback whale and Dugong for assessing country wide population status and monitoring under the scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitat (IDWH).
- Under the Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP), the marine mammal Dugong has received special attention with a country wide effort towards conservation of Dugongs and their habitat conservation and about 450 sq km area in the Palk Bay has been declared as Dugong Conservation Reserve to conservation of Dugongs and seagrass associated marine species.