Karnataka, India, is poised to establish its first marine protected area, the Apsarakonda-Mugali Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, dedicated to safeguarding 11 threatened species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Spanning 838.2 hectares on land and 5,124.3 hectares at sea, the sanctuary will extend 6km into the Arabian Sea from Honnavar in Uttara Kannada. It will provide a haven for species such as the sea cucumber, Olive-Ridley turtle, coral reef, migratory shark, spotted seahorse, rays, trevally, groupers, mullets, red snappers, and croakers, all classified as scheduled animals under the Wildlife Protection Act.
The sanctuary's establishment addresses concerns about the limited protection of marine biodiversity in Karnataka, with only 4% of the total protected area dedicated to marine environments. The sanctuary will stretch from Mugali in the south to Kasarkod in the north, covering a total length of 8.2km, with Kasarkod's sandy beaches serving as a key nesting site for Olive-Ridley turtles.
The marine boundary, set at 6km from the shore, was chosen to facilitate effective monitoring and surveillance from land, ensurKarnataka to Establish Its First Marine Wildlife Sanctuary
Karnataka is preparing to create its first marine protected area, the Apsarakonda-Mugali Marine Wildlife Sanctuary, dedicated to preserving 11 endangered species, as recognized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Scope of the Sanctuary
The sanctuary will cover 838.2 hectares of land and 5,124.3 hectares of marine territory, extending 6 km into the Arabian Sea from Honnavar in Uttara Kannada.
It will provide a safe habitat for several rare marine species, including:
Sea cucumbers
Olive ridley turtles
Coral reefs
Migratory sharks
Spotted seahorses
Rays, trevallies, groupers, mullets, red snappers, and goatfish
All of these species are classified as protected under India’s Wildlife Protection Act.
Why Is This Important?
Currently, only 4% of Karnataka’s protected areas are dedicated to marine ecosystems. The new sanctuary aims to bridge this gap, ensuring effective conservation of marine biodiversity.
Stretching 8.2 km along the coastline, it will extend from Mugali in the south to Kasarkoda in the north, with Kasarkoda’s sandy beaches serving as key nesting sites for olive ridley turtles.
Next Steps
Initially proposed in 2022, the project was put on hold. However, the Karnataka government now plans to resubmit it to the State Board for Wildlife, seeking cabinet approval.
If approved, this will mark a historic step in India’s marine conservation efforts, setting a new precedent for protecting the region’s fragile ecosystems.ing the protection of marine biodiversity. The sanctuary was initially proposed in 2022 but was withdrawn from the cabinet agenda. The current administration plans to resubmit the proposal at the next State Wildlife Board meeting, aiming to secure cabinet approval and realize this landmark project.