Lok Sabha Question No. 2287 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-29
Subject: Status of Coral Reefs
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRRON KHER

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.2287

TO BE ANSWERED ON 29.11.2016

## Status of Coral Reefs

## 2287.    SHRIMATI KIRRON KHER:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether any study has been conducted or reports published on the status of coral reefs in India and the damage caused due to climate change;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) wheher initiatives have been taken to protect  coral reefs in the country and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the existing legal provisions for coral reef protection in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) and (b) As per information supplied by the Indian Space Research Organisation, a spatial inventory  of  Indian  Coral  Reefs  using  satellite  data  pertaining  to  2004-07 timeframe  has  been  published  as  an  Atlas  entitled  'Coral  Reef  Atlas  of  the World' (Vol.1), 2010. Studies on coral  reef  coral  bleaching  due  to  rise  in  sea surface  temperature  (SST)  revealed  that  Indian  Coral  reef  regions  experience mass bleaching when regional summer thermal  thresholds are crossed and the SST anomalies persists for more than a week time continuously. It was observed that coral reefs  of  Lakshadweep  were  found  in  pristine  condition,  while Andaman and Nicobar reefs were found in vulnerable condition. Coral reefs of Gulf  of  Kachchh  and  Gulf  of  Mannar  were  found  in  degrading  condition.  A Coral  Bleaching  Alert  System  (CBAS)  has  been  developed  by  the  Indian National  Centre  for  Ocean  Information  Services,  which  is  operational  since 2010.  The  objective  of  developing  the  CBAS  is  to  help  in  identification  of thermal  stress  on  coral  systems  for  protection,  preservation  and  the  health  of coral reefs in the country.
- (c) and (d) The Government seeks to protect and sustain coral reefs in the country through both promotional and regulatory measures.  The Government is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme entitled 'Conservation and Management  of Mangroves  and  Coral  Reefs'  at  four  sites  namely  Lakshadweep,  Gulf  of Kachchh,  Gulf  of  Mannar  and  Andaman  &  Nicobar  islands  for  restoration, monitoring, conservation and management of coral reefs. The Ministry provides

60%  central assistance to the four coastal States/Union Territories, for implementation of their approved Management Action Plans for coral reefs. The Government  has  enacted  the  following  Acts,  and  framed  rules  thereunder  for protection of coral reefs in the country:

- (i) The  Wildlife  (Protection)  Act,  1972  has  been  enacted  to  provide  legal protection  against  hunting  of  wildlife  in  the  country.  Some  species  of Corals have  been  provided  legal protection by including them  in Schedule I of the Act. A Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has also been constituted  under  the  Act  to  combat  wildlife  crime  in  the  country. Further, the government has also established both terrestrial and marine protected areas viz. National Parks, Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves and  Community  Reserves  covering  important  wildlife  including  coral habitats under the provisions of the Act.
- (ii) The  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  (CRZ)  Notification  (2011)  has  been notified  under  the  Environment  (Protection)  Act,  1986.  CRZ  2011 notification recognizes the coral reef areas as ecologically sensitive and categorizes  them  as  CRZ-I  which  implies  that  these  areas  are  afforded protection of the highest order.

******