The Government has taken various important steps for the conservation of marine species which includes:

i. A network of protected areas across the Coastal States and Islands of the country under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 has been created for the conservation of marine species.

ii. Many threatened marine species have been listed Schedule I and II of the Wild Life (Protection) Act 1972 according them protection against hunting.

iii. The Ministry has amended Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 in 2022 to include section 50 which empowers the Indian Coast Guards for entry, search, arrest and detention in case of contravention of provisions of the Act.

iv. The Ministry has formulated a National Marine Turtle Action Plan with the aim to conserve marine turtles and their habitats in January 2021.

v. The Ministry has released the ‘Marine Megafauna Stranding Management Guidelines’ in 2021 for management of stranding and entanglement of marine mega fauna.

vi. 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 Horse shoe crabs’ habitats.

vii. Project Dolphin is an initiative launched in 2021 to conserve both oceanic and riverine dolphin species.

viii. The Ministry provides financial assistance to States/UTs under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme-Development of Wildlife Habitats-for conservation of wildlife including marine species and their habitat. The details are provided as per Annexure-I

ix. The Ministry under the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) provided funding support for conservation of Dugongs and their habitats.

x. The Ministry is granting funds under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes to maritime States and Union Territory administrations for the conservation of Corals and Mangroves.