Status of Coral Reefs of the World 2000

Status of Coral Reefs in South Asia
particularly concerning fish and invertebrate diversity. There is no clear conservation policy
and consultations with the local community on resource management have been limited. A
review of the National Conservation Strategy showed that legal and institutional issues have
largely been ignored
Chagos
The Corbett Action Plan for Protected Areas of the Indomalayan Realm identified the
Chagos Archipelago as an area with marine conservation needs due to its extensive coral
reef and unique terrestrial habitats. However, it is not known whether Chagos has been
declared as a marine protected area.
India
There are 5 marine protected areas in India: Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve (GoMBR -
10,500km 2 ); Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park (GoKMNP - 400km 2 ); Mahatma Gandhi Marine
National Park (MGMNP) also known as the Wandoor Marine National Park in Andamans
(282km 2 ); Great Nicobar Biosphere Reserve (GNBR - 885km 2 ); and Rani Jansi Marine National
Park (RJMNP) in Ritchie’s Archipelago in Andamans. A marine protected area (Perumal
Marine Park) was proposed for Lakshadweep in 1996, but there is no evidence of its
declaration. The management for these protected areas is weak, particularly those near the
subcontinent where human impacts from resource use and urban and industrial
development are high. Reefs in the Gulf of Kutch Marine Park have been neglected, with
monitoring activities limited to occasional EIA studies associated with development
activities and there are growing concerns that parts of the park may be rescinded for
industrial development. Protected areas on Andaman and Nicobar Islands and in
Lakshadweep are in better condition, but only because human impacts are less. These MPA
areas are still vulnerable to impacts from the crown-of-thorns starfish and bleaching, which
are largely beyond local management. There is a major need for training of conservation
officers to manage the protected areas and funding for infrastructure development.
In general the existing marine protected areas noted above for India are not effectively
managed and destructive activities continue. There is a need for studies on reef resource
use, particularly harvesting of reef fish and the economic links between resource exploitation
and coastal communities. Studies are also required to investigate the dynamics of the live
bait fisheries. Surveys in the Lakshadweep, Andaman and Nicobar Islands are restricted to a
few sites that are easily accessible. Fish censuses have not been included in monitoring
programmes and a lack of trained divers and scuba gear prevents sampling in deeper areas.
No systematic monitoring or conservation strategy existed in India until recently, through
initiatives mainly associated with the establishment of a GCRMN Node. There are few
trained and skilled people for long-term monitoring, and there is little NGO involvement or
community participation in reef management. There is also a lack of awareness of the value
and importance of coral reefs among government agencies and local communities,
although some academic institutions have conducted reef research. Thus, there is still a
need for more coordinated approaches to coral reef management.
Coral Reef Monitoring Action Plans (CRMAPs) were prepared during the first phase of the
GCRMN (1997-8) and have been launched by the ICRMN for all reef areas except the Gulf of
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