Marine Protected Areas
(Photo: Anant Pande, Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal)
Marine Protected Area
A marine protected area (MPA) is essentially a space in the ocean where human activities are more strictly regulated than the surrounding waters - similar to parks we have on land. These places are given special protections for natural or historic marine resources by local, state, territorial, native, regional, or national authorities.
List of Marine Protected Areas in Peninsular India
|
S. No.
|
State
|
Name of Protected Area
|
Notification Year
|
Area (in km2)
|
|
1
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay
|
2022
|
448.34
|
|
2
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Gulf of Mannar Marine Park (21 Islands)
Reserve Land - 623.12 Ha +
Sea area - 51978.88 Ha
|
1986
|
526.02
|
|
3
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary
"Block -A'and "Block -B"
|
2013
|
124.07
|
|
4
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Point Calimere Wildlife Sanctuary
|
1967
|
17.29
|
|
5
|
Tamil Nadu
|
Pulicat Lake Birds Sanctuary
|
1980
|
153.67
|
|
6
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
Coringa
|
1978
|
235.7
|
|
7
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
Krishna
|
1989
|
194.81
|
|
8
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
Pulicat Lake
|
1980
|
600
|
|
9
|
Daman & Diu
|
Fudam
|
1991
|
2.18
|
|
10
|
Goa
|
Dr Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary (Chorao Island)
|
1988
|
1.78
|
|
11
|
Gujarat
|
Marine (Gulf of Kachchh)
|
1995
|
162.89
|
|
12
|
Gujarat
|
Marine (Gulf of Kachchh)
|
1980
|
295.03
|
|
13
|
Gujarat
|
Khijadia
|
1981
|
6.05
|
|
14
|
Kerala
|
Kadalundi Vallikkunnu
|
2007
|
1.5
|
|
15
|
Maharashtra
|
Malvan Marine
|
1987
|
29.12
|
|
16
|
Maharashtra
|
Thane Creek Flamingo
|
2015
|
16.905
|
|
17
|
Odisha
|
Bhitarkanika
|
1998
|
145
|
|
18
|
Odisha
|
Bhitarkanika
|
1975
|
525
|
|
19
|
Odisha
|
Chilka (Nalaban)
|
1987
|
15.53
|
|
20
|
Odisha
|
Gahirmatha
|
1997
|
1435
|
|
21
|
Odisha
|
Balukhand Konark
|
1984
|
71.72
|
|
22
|
West Bengal
|
Sundarbans
|
1984
|
1330.1
|
|
23
|
West Bengal
|
West Sundarbans
|
2013
|
556.45
|
|
24
|
West Bengal
|
Haliday Island
|
1976
|
5.95
|
|
25
|
West Bengal
|
Sajnakhali
|
1976
|
362.4
|
|
26
|
West Bengal
|
Lothian Island
|
1976
|
38
|
|
Total Marine Protected Areas in Peninsular India
|
7,300.51
|
List of Marine Protected Areas in Islands of India (as on July 2024)
Andaman & Nicobar Islands
|
S. No.
|
Name of Protected Area
|
Area
(in km2)
|
Notification Year
|
|
1
|
Arial Island Sanctuary
|
0.05
|
1987
|
|
2
|
Bamboo Island Sanctuary
|
0.05
|
1987
|
|
3
|
Barren Island Sanctuary
|
8.10
|
1997
|
|
4
|
Battimalve Island Sanctuary
|
2.23
|
1985
|
|
5
|
Belle Island Sanctuary
|
0.08
|
1987
|
|
6
|
Benette Island Sanctuary
|
3.46
|
1987
|
|
7
|
Bingham Island Sanctuary
|
0.08
|
1987
|
|
8
|
Blister Island Sanctuary
|
0.26
|
1987
|
|
9
|
Bluff Island Sanctuary
|
1.14
|
1987
|
|
10
|
Bondoville Island Sanctuary
|
2.55
|
1987
|
|
11
|
Brush Island Sanctuary
|
0.23
|
1987
|
|
12
|
Buchanan Island Sanctuary
|
9.33
|
1987
|
|
13
|
Campbell Bay National Park
|
426.23
|
1996
|
|
14
|
Channel Island Sanctuary
|
0.13
|
1987
|
|
15
|
Cinque Island Sanctuary
|
9.51
|
1987
|
|
16
|
Clyde Island Sanctuary
|
0.54
|
1987
|
|
17
|
Cone Island Sanctuary
|
0.65
|
1987
|
|
18
|
Coral Sanctuary
|
2.73
|
2022
|
|
19
|
Curlew (B.P.) Island Sanctuary
|
0.16
|
1987
|
|
20
|
Curlew Island Sanctuary
|
0.03
|
1987
|
|
21
|
Cuthbert Bay Sanctuary
|
5.82
|
1997
|
|
22
|
Defence Island Sanctuary
|
10.49
|
1987
|
|
23
|
Dot Island Sanctuary
|
0.18
|
1987
|
|
24
|
Dottrell Island Sanctuary
|
0.13
|
1987
|
|
25
|
Duncan Island Sanctuary
|
0.73
|
1987
|
|
26
|
East Island Sanctuary
|
6.11
|
1987
|
|
27
|
Egg Island Sanctuary
|
0.05
|
1987
|
|
28
|
Entrance Island Sanctuary
|
0.96
|
1987
|
|
29
|
Flat Island Sanctuary
|
9.36
|
1987
|
|
30
|
Galathea National Park
|
110.00
|
1996
|
|
31
|
Gander Island Sanctuary
|
0.05
|
1987
|
|
32
|
Goose Island Sanctuary
|
0.01
|
1987
|
|
33
|
Gurjan Island Sanctuary
|
0.16
|
1987
|
|
34
|
Hump Island Sanctuary
|
0.47
|
1987
|
|
35
|
Interview Island Sanctuary
|
133.00
|
1997
|
|
36
|
James Island Sanctuary
|
2.10
|
1987
|
|
37
|
Jungle Island Sanctuary
|
0.52
|
1987
|
|
38
|
Kwangtung Island Sanctuary
|
0.57
|
1987
|
|
39
|
Kyd Island Sanctuary
|
8.00
|
1987
|
|
40
|
Landfall Island Sanctuary
|
29.48
|
1987
|
|
41
|
Latouche Island Sanctuary
|
0.06
|
1987
|
|
42
|
Leatherback Turtle Sanctuary
|
13.75
|
2022
|
|
43
|
Lohabarrack Wildlife Sanctuary
|
44.34
|
2022
|
|
44
|
Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
|
281.50
|
1999
|
|
45
|
Mangrove Island Sanctuary
|
0.39
|
1987
|
|
46
|
Manipur Parvat (Mount Harriet) National Park
|
46.62
|
1996
|
|
47
|
Mask Island Sanctuary
|
0.78
|
1987
|
|
48
|
Mayo Island Sanctuary
|
0.10
|
1987
|
|
49
|
Megapode Sanctuary
|
1.29
|
2022
|
|
50
|
Montogomery Island Sanctuary
|
0.21
|
1987
|
|
51
|
Narcondum Island Sanctuary
|
6.81
|
1997
|
|
52
|
North Brother Island Sanctuary
|
0.75
|
1987
|
|
53
|
North Island Sanctuary
|
0.49
|
1987
|
|
54
|
North Reef Island Sanctuary
|
3.48
|
1997
|
|
55
|
Oliver Island Sanctuary
|
0.16
|
1987
|
|
56
|
Orchid Island Sanctuary
|
0.10
|
1987
|
|
57
|
Ox Island Sanctuary
|
0.13
|
1987
|
|
58
|
Oyster Island-I Sanctuary
|
0.08
|
1987
|
|
59
|
Oyster Island-II Sanctuary
|
0.21
|
1987
|
|
60
|
Paget Island Sanctuary
|
7.36
|
1987
|
|
61
|
Parkinson Island Sanctuary
|
0.34
|
1987
|
|
62
|
Passage Island Sanctuary
|
0.62
|
1987
|
|
63
|
Peacock Island Sanctuary
|
0.62
|
1987
|
|
64
|
Petric Island Sanctuary
|
0.13
|
1987
|
|
65
|
Pitman Island Sanctuary
|
1.37
|
1987
|
|
66
|
Point Island Sanctuary
|
3.07
|
1987
|
|
67
|
Potanma Island Sanctuary
|
0.16
|
1987
|
|
68
|
Ranger Island Sanctuary
|
4.26
|
1987
|
|
69
|
Rani Jhansi Marine National Park*
|
320.06
|
2017
|
|
70
|
Reef Island Sanctuary
|
1.74
|
1987
|
|
71
|
Roper Island Sanctuary
|
1.46
|
1987
|
|
72
|
Ross Island Sanctuary
|
1.01
|
1987
|
|
73
|
Rowe Island Sanctuary
|
0.01
|
1987
|
|
74
|
Saddle Peak National Park
|
32.54
|
1996
|
|
75
|
Sandy Island Sanctuary
|
1.58
|
1987
|
|
76
|
Sea Serpent Island Sanctuary
|
0.78
|
1987
|
|
77
|
Shark Island Sanctuary
|
0.60
|
1987
|
|
78
|
Shearme Island Sanctuary
|
7.85
|
1987
|
|
79
|
Sir Hugh Ross Island Sanctuary
|
1.06
|
1987
|
|
80
|
Sister Island Sanctuary
|
0.36
|
1987
|
|
81
|
Snake Island-I Sanctuary
|
0.73
|
1987
|
|
82
|
Snake Island-II Sanctuary
|
0.03
|
1987
|
|
83
|
South Brother Island
|
1.24
|
1987
|
|
84
|
South Reef Sanctuary
|
1.17
|
1987
|
|
85
|
South Sentinel Island Sanctuary
|
1.61
|
1997
|
|
86
|
Spike Island-I Sanctuary
|
0.42
|
1987
|
|
87
|
Spike Island-II Sanctuary
|
11.70
|
1987
|
|
88
|
Stoat Island Sanctuary
|
0.44
|
1987
|
|
89
|
Surat Island Sanctuary
|
0.31
|
1987
|
|
90
|
Swamp Island Sanctuary
|
4.09
|
1987
|
|
91
|
Table (Delgarno) Island Sanctuary
|
2.29
|
1987
|
|
92
|
Table (Excelsior) Island Sanctuary
|
1.69
|
1987
|
|
93
|
Talabaicha Island Sanctuary
|
3.21
|
1987
|
|
94
|
Temple Island Sanctuary
|
1.04
|
1987
|
|
95
|
Tillongchang Island Sanctuary
|
16.83
|
1985
|
|
96
|
Tree Island Sanctuary
|
0.03
|
1987
|
|
97
|
Trilby Island Sanctuary
|
0.96
|
1987
|
|
98
|
Tuft Island Sanctuary
|
0.29
|
1987
|
|
99
|
Turtle Island Sanctuary
|
0.39
|
1987
|
|
100
|
West Island Sanctuary
|
6.40
|
1987
|
|
101
|
Wharf Island Sanctuary
|
0.11
|
1987
|
|
102
|
White Cliff Island Sanctuary
|
0.47
|
1987
|
Lakshadweep Islands
|
S. No.
|
Name of Protected Area
|
Area
(in km2)
|
Notification Year
|
|
103
|
Pitti Sanctuary
|
40
|
2019
|
|
104
|
A. Attakoya Thangal Marine Conservation Reseve
|
344
|
2020
|
|
105
|
Dr. K.K. Mohammed Koya Sea Cucumber Conservation Reseve
|
239
|
2020
|
|
106
|
P.M. Sayeed Marine Birds Conservation Reseve
|
62
|
2019
|
|
|
Total Area
|
2,314.41 Km2
|
* Button Islands National Parks (North Button Island, Middle Button Island & South
Button Island) of Andaman & Nicobar Islands have been merged with Rani Jhansi Marine National
Park.
Source: MoEFCC and State Forest Departments.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manual on
Status of Marine and Coastal environments and developing a Marine Protected Area Network in India
(download pdf version)
Citation: Saravanan, K. R., K. Sivakumar and B.C. Choudhury, 2011. Status of Marine and Coastal environments and developing a Marine Protected Area Network in India. Wildlife Insitute of India. Dehradun. Pp 334.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source Paper on
Coastal and Marine Protected Areas in India: Challenges and Way Forward
(download pdf version)
Citation: K Sivakumar, VB Mathur & Anant Pande. (2013). Coastal and Marine Protected Areas in India: Challenges and Way Forward. In Sivakumar, K. (Ed.) Coastal and Marine Protected Areas in India: Challenges and Way Forward, ENVIS Bulletin: Wildlife & Protected Areas. Vol. 15 Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun-248001, India. 292-298 pp.