Marine biodiversity conservation and management in India

Abstract

The coastal marine ecosystems play a vital role in India's economy by virtue of their natural resources, potential habitats, and wide biodiversity. India has a long coastline of 8,118 km with exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 2.5 million km 2 which is an important area both for exploration and exploitation of natural resources. Marine biodiversity affords enormous economical, environmental, and esthetic value to human kind. Humans have long depended on marine aquatic resources for food, medicine, and materials as well as for recreational and commercial purposes such as fishing and tourism. Marine organisms also rely upon the great biodiversity of habitats and resources for food, materials, breeding and larval disposal environment. This interdependence is essential and maintaining a balance between them is cardinal. But the marine ecosystems are deteriorating at an alarming rate. The factors responsible for it are over exploitation of species, introduction of exotic species, pollution from urban, industrial, and agricultural areas as well as habitat loss and alteration of water diversion, and excessive use of water resources. As a result, valuable marine aquatic resources are becoming increasingly susceptible to both natural and manmade environmental changes. The present chapter deals with the strategies to protect and conserve marine biodiversity which are necessary to maintain the balance of nature and support the availability of natural resources for future generations in India.