Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Strategies in Indian Coastal Waters: A Review

This review synthesizes findings from 20 peer-reviewed studies to evaluate the current status of key marine ecosystems in India, including coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass meadows, estuaries, and deep-sea habitats. It examines the major threats to biodiversity, such as overfishing, pollution, habitat degradation, climate change, and unregulated coastal development. The paper also assesses existing conservation measures, including marine protected areas, community-based initiatives, and policy frameworks, and identifies research gaps such as limited taxonomic studies, inadequate long-term monitoring, and insufficient integration of local ecological knowledge. Recommendations are provided to strengthen conservation strategies, align them with global best practices, and address emerging environmental challenges.