Conserving Marine Ecosystems

This Project's Main Goals
1. Build Awareness around the current status of Marine Protection Efforts in India
Educate the general public and people in positions of influence on the need for greater Marine Protection Efforts in India.
2 Create effective management plans for existing MPAs
Help Strengthen pre-existing MPAs by taking MCI's advisement on what all an effective management plan should include.
3. Support the creation of MPAs & Community reserves across India
Identify biodiverse rich places that deserve our protection and convince the Indian Government and local communities to seek MPA designation for the same.

What makes this special...
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- India has a 7517 km coastline, of which very little is currently protected.
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- There are 134 designated MPAs of which the majority are on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. None of these MPAs have active or effective management plans.
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- WCS-India has already identified several areas that meet the right scientific specifications for impactful conservation if they are protected as MPAs.
- Angria Bank which WCS-India has been working to protect is the largest reef system in India and has already been given approval for protection by the Maharashtra Government. It just needs final approval by the central government to become an MPA.

What Sets This Program Apart
1. Robust Scientific Expertise
Areas that are recommended for designation have a rich biodiverse landscape and are better position towards climate resiliency.
2. International Gold Standards of Management Plans
The Marine Conservation Institute runs the Blue Parks Award which sets the international benchmark for most effective and best managed protected areas internationally.
3. Long Term Impact
Currently, India has 134 designated MPAs, most of which are in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Zero of which have effective or active management plans. There is a strong need to create MPAs along the coast of mainland India with strong management plans.

Why is it important to protect Marine Ecosystems?
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- Creates Protected spaces for species to not only survive but thrive.
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- Creates spaces where important data on species and populations can be collected.
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- Allows for scientifically informed policy recommendations.
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- Helps stabilize and rebuild diminishing fisheries which coastal communities depend on.
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- Supports government bodies and cultivates greater departmental initiative.
- A healthy ocean translates into a healthy world.

IMPACT RESEARCH RESULTS ON INDIA'S MPAS
134 MPAs in operation
Only 44 MPAs of the 134 in India
are currently on international
databases, and most of them do
not have current or sufficient
management plans to ensure
successful conservation of the area
in which they have been designated
to protect.
7 PERCENT of ocean protected
India and the whole world is still very
far from reaching its commitments to
protecting 30 percent of the world’s
ocean by 2030. Currently only 7 percent of the world’s Oceans are protected, and only 2.7 percent of that is covered by what the Institute describes as “full or highly” protected areas
ACADEMIC PAPERS supported
Currently two of our impact partners
are in the process of drafting
academic papers on the status of
marine life and marine protected
areas in India. We hope to share
these with the larger community once
they have been published
ANGRIA BANK sunken atoll
Angria Bank has received MPA status
approval by Maharashtra & has been
sent to the central government for
final approval by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest, & Climate
Change. We hoped to encourage the
official designation of this area, which
our impact partners at WCS-India had
initially been put forward
for designation.
IMPACT RESEARCH RESULTS ON INDIA'S MPAS
13 MPAs in operation
Only 44 MPAs of the 134 in India
are currently on international
databases, and most of them do
not have current or sufficient
management plans to ensure
successful conservation of the area
in which they have been designated
to protect.
7 PERCENT of ocean protected
India and the whole world is still very
far from reaching its commitments to
protecting 30 percent of the world’s
ocean by 2030. Currently only 7 percent of the world’s Oceans are protected, and only 2.7 percent of that is covered by what the Institute describes as “full or highly” protected areas.
ACADEMIC PAPERS supported
Currently two of our impact partners
are in the process of drafting
academic papers on the status of
marine life and marine protected
areas in India. We hope to share
these with the larger community once
they have been published.
ANGRIA BANK sunken atoll
Angria Bank has received MPA status
approval by Maharashtra & has been
sent to the central government for
final approval by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest, & Climate
Change. We hoped to encourage the
official designation of this area, which
our impact partners at WCS-India had
initially been put forward
for designation.

“WCS envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit
from the diversity and integrity of life on earth.
WCS saves wildlife and wild places through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature.
WCS has a long track record of achieving innovative, impactful results at scale since their founding in 1895. Wildlife Conservation Society has furthered its global mission in India since 1988.

“Marine Conservation Institute is dedicated to securing permanent, strong protection for the oceans’ most important
places – for us and future generations.
For 25 years, Marine Conservation Institute has been leading conservation efforts to save our ocean. Growing awareness of
threats to our ocean has led to significant expansion of marine protections and support needed to set up
these protections.