Important for
Prelims: Geography and Environment
Mains: General Studies Paper I
Marine Protected Areas
- Government of India has announced that India will support setting up two Marine Protected Areas (MPA) in Antarctica to protect marine life and its ecosystem services.
- region managed for the long-term conservation of marine resources, ecosystem services or cultural heritage.
- certain activities are limited, or entirely prohibited, to meet specific conservation, habitat protection.
- Climate change is altering habitats such as sea ice and the sheltered seafloor under ice shelves that are home to a variety of species
- Increased harvesting of krill threatens animals that feed on them. These include fish, whales, seals, penguins and other seabirds
MPAs current status
- The Southern Ocean has two MPAs, one in the southern shelf of the South Orkney Islands and the other in the Ross Sea.
- In 2021, India extended its support for designating East Antarctica and the Weddell Sea as MPA
Practice Questions for Prelims
Which of the following is India’s First National Marine Park?
a) Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park
b) Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch
c) Rani Jhansi Marine National Park
d) Gulf of Mannar National Park
Ans. b)
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