Lok Sabha Question No. 2249 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-05
Subject: Coral Bleaching
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Karti P Chidambaram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2249

TO BE ANSWERED ON 05.08.2024

## Coral Bleaching

## 2249.  SHRI KARTI P CHIDAMBARAM

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

- (a) the details of mass coral bleaching events during the last five years.
- (b) the  details  of  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  address  the  recent  coral  mass bleaching event in the Lakshadweep Islands,
- (c) the steps taken by the Government for the protection and conservation of barrier reefs, fringing reefs and atolls in the country; and
- (d) the details of the impact of mass coral bleaching on the local economy, namely tourism and fishermen along with the steps taken by the Government to compensate them?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b): Coral mass bleaching is a natural phenomenon across the global waters due to change in the global climate change followed by increase in sea surface temperature. However, corals have resilience to recover depending upon the restoration of the normal sea conditions. Coralbleaching events have been reported during March 2024 in Lakshadweep. During 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2020, the events of coral bleaching were not significant.

As  per  information  received  from  Department  of  Environment  &  Forest  of  Lakshadweep Administration, coral transplantation activities are conducted to boost up the corals. Integrated Island  Management  Plan  also  provides  protection  for  coral  reefs.  Zoological  Survey  of  India (ZSI) conducts studies on extent of coral bleaching as part of Long Term Coral Reef Monitoring Program.  Indian  National  Centre  for  Ocean  Information  Services  (INCOIS),  Hyderabad  has provided coral bleaching alert services based on sea surface temperature data for Indian coral environs  since  2011.  Further,  INCOIS  has  extended  its  services  to  include  marine  heat  wave monitoring, which is crucial for understanding the variability of marine heat waves in  Indian waters.  In  addition,  INCOIS  conducts  studies  in  the  coral  ecosystems  of  the  Lakshadweep Islands  to  enhance  the  understanding  of  coral  reef  dynamics  and  validate  the  coral  bleaching advisory services.

(c)  &(d): Government of India has taken steps to  protect and conserve barrier reefs, fringing reefs  and  atolls  in  the  country  through  various  regulatory  and  promotional  measures,  which include:

- i. Coral species are listed under schedule -I under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which provides highest protection to the coral reefs.
- ii. 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 corals and coral reefs and prohibit developmental activities and disposal of wastes in the fragile coastal ecosystems.
- iii. Ministry of Environment, Forest Climate Change has initiated a long-term programme on Coral restoration and Marine Biological Station, Zoological Survey of India is involved in monitoring and restoration of coral ecosystem in Lakshadweep since last five years.
- iv. Central Marines Fisheries  Research Institute (CMFRI)  has  undertaken  studies  to understand ecological changes affecting coral reefs. CMFRI has initiated a comprehensive national project aimed at investigating the resilience potential of various coral  reefs  in  India  by  integrating  advanced  climatic  modelling,  deep-learning,  and ecological research and develop resilience-based management actions ensuring the longterm sustainability of coral reef ecosystems.

Coral bleaching is a sporadic event in  India, and such incidents do not  have major impact  on local economy such as tourism and fishermen as of now.

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