Sakshi Education
By Srirangam Sriram, Sriram's IAS, New Delhi.
Threat to coral reefs
However, threats to their existence abound, and scientists estimate that human factors—such as pollution, global warming, and sedimentation—are threatening large swaths of the world's reefs.
Protection in India
There are a few laws in the Country that can be activated for the protection of coral reef areas such as the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 1991 issued under the broad EPA as well as the Wildlife (Protection) Act, (WPA) 1972 since all coral reef areas in India are protected areas declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The other laws that would have a bearing on coral reef areas are the Indian Forest Act 1980 and the Indian Fisheries Act. Various state fisheries acts would be relevant for conservation and management of coral reef areas.
The only law that explicitly outlaws coral mining is the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 1991. The CRZ-notification of 1991 issued under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 places restrictions on industries, operations and processes in the CPZ areas.
Coral polyps are tiny, soft-bodied organisms. At their base is a hard, protective limestone skeleton called a calicle, which forms the structure of coral reefs. Reefs begin when a polyp attaches itself to a rock on the seafloor, then divides, or buds, into thousands of clones. The polyp calicles connect to one another, creating a colony that acts as a single organism. As colonies grow over hundreds and thousands of years, they join with other colonies and become reefs. Some of the coral reefs on the planet today began growing over 50 million years ago.
Coral bleaching
When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white.
Why are coral reefs important?
Coral bleaching
When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white.
Why are coral reefs important?
- Coral reefs teem with life, covering less than 1 % of the ocean floor, but supporting about 25 % of all marine creatures.
- Coral reefs also act as ‘wave breaks’ between the sea and the coastline and minimise the impact of sea erosion.
Threat to coral reefs
However, threats to their existence abound, and scientists estimate that human factors—such as pollution, global warming, and sedimentation—are threatening large swaths of the world's reefs.
Protection in India
There are a few laws in the Country that can be activated for the protection of coral reef areas such as the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 1991 issued under the broad EPA as well as the Wildlife (Protection) Act, (WPA) 1972 since all coral reef areas in India are protected areas declared under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972. The other laws that would have a bearing on coral reef areas are the Indian Forest Act 1980 and the Indian Fisheries Act. Various state fisheries acts would be relevant for conservation and management of coral reef areas.The only law that explicitly outlaws coral mining is the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 1991. The CRZ-notification of 1991 issued under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 places restrictions on industries, operations and processes in the CPZ areas.
Published date : 06 Nov 2020 05:19PM
