Context
The government clarified in Lok Sabha that offshore mining blocks offered for auction do NOT overlap with Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This comes after major protests in Kerala and concerns that offshore sand and mineral mining could harm marine biodiversity and fish stocks.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) — Prelims Notes
• Definition: MPAs are clearly defined marine zones where human activities are regulated to conserve biodiversity, ecosystems, and cultural resources.
• Legal Basis in India: Notified under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (as National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, etc.).
• Purpose:
• Protect marine species, coral reefs, fish breeding grounds.
• Prevent over-extraction and habitat destruction.
India’s MPAs:
• 130 Marine Protected Areas notified across coastal States and islands.
• Part of India’s broader Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and marine biodiversity conservation efforts.
