**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 247, answered on February 2, 2026, regarding the impact of climate change on coral reefs in India. It details various initiatives, projects, and measures undertaken by the Government of India to protect and conserve coral reefs, including monitoring and alert systems for coral bleaching. The response addresses concerns about damage to coral reefs from development projects, outlines actions taken, and provides specifics on coral bleaching events and monitoring efforts.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Regulatory and Promotional Measures:**
* Coral species are listed under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing the highest level of protection.
* The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, focuses on the conservation and management of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), including coral reefs, and prohibits developmental activities and waste disposal in fragile coastal ecosystems.
* **Projects and Initiatives:**
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest Climate Change has initiated a long-term program for coral restoration and marine biological stations.
* The National Coastal Mission (NCM) aims to enhance the resilience and sustainability of India's coastal regions, including coral reef management. Specific projects have been approved and implemented through coastal States and Union Territories, such as the "Development of Corals and its Management" project in Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
* **Coral Bleaching:**
* Elevated sea surface temperatures linked to climate change, ocean warming, and El-Niño events are the primary drivers of coral bleaching.
* Major coral bleaching episodes have been relatively few and sporadic between 2015 and 2026.
* **Monitoring and Alert Systems:**
* The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) provides operational services through its Coral Bleaching Alert System (CBAS), monitoring sea surface temperatures and marine heatwave events.
* INCOIS disseminates Marine Heatwave Alerts to coastal states and stakeholders, highlighting coral regions impacted by bleaching.
* The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) monitors coral reefs, conducts research on coral restoration, transplantation, and bleaching-resistant corals, and provides insights for effective conservation strategies.
* The Coral Reef Monitoring Robot (C-Bot) is used to gather precise data regarding coral ecosystems, including underwater imaging and geo-referencing.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Coastal States and Union Territories
**Impact:** Responsible for the implementation of approved projects and activities for the protection, management, and restoration of coral reefs within their jurisdictions.
**Action Required:** Implementation of management and conservation plans, participation in projects under the National Coastal Mission, and response to Marine Heatwave Alerts issued by INCOIS.
**Stakeholder:** Ministry of Environment, Forest Climate Change
**Impact:** Oversees the implementation of coral reef protection and conservation measures, initiatives, and research efforts across India.
**Action Required:** Continued funding, support, and monitoring of ongoing projects; development of new initiatives based on research findings and monitoring data.
**Stakeholder:** Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
**Impact:** Primary role in monitoring coral reefs, conducting research, and providing scientific expertise for conservation strategies.
**Action Required:** Continuation of coral reef monitoring, research on coral resilience, and collaboration with state agencies for effective conservation interventions.
**Stakeholder:** Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS)
**Impact:** Responsible for monitoring sea surface temperatures and marine heatwave events, providing crucial data for coral bleaching alerts.
**Action Required:** Continued monitoring and dissemination of Marine Heatwave Alerts to relevant stakeholders to support informed decision-making and timely interventions.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Provides the highest protection to coral reefs by listing coral species under Schedule -I.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019: Promulgated under the Environment (Protection) Act 1986, with specific focus on the conservation and management of Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) like corals and coral reefs.
National Coastal Mission (NCM): A Central Sector Scheme under the National Coastal Management Programme to enhance the resilience and sustainability of India's coastal regions, with coral reef development and management as an identified activity.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary ministry overseeing the protection and conservation of coral reefs in India, including initiating coral restoration programs.
Lakshadweep: Specifically named islands mentioned within the context of development projects affecting coral reefs.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 247
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
Impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs
247. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government has a long-term action plan to protect and preserve coral reefs
in the country, particularly against the impact of climate change, if so, the details
thereof;
(b) whether the Government has taken any initiatives to protect major coral formations in
the country, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has taken any measures to prevent damage to coral reefs while
implementing development, shipping and tourism projects in Lakshadweep islands and
the Andaman and Nicobar islands, if so, the details thereof;
(d) the details of the projects and proposed projects for the protection and management of
coral reefs under the National Coastal Mission Scheme, State/UT-wise;
(e) the details of major coral bleaching events in the country along with the causes and
impact, including the extent of damage since 2015; and
(f) the details of the measures taken/proposed to be taken to strengthen coral bleaching
monitoring and alert system along with the details of alerts issued since 2015, State/UT-
wise?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d). Government of India has taken several steps to protect and conserve coral reefs in
the country through various regulatory and promotional measures, which include:
i. Coral species are listed under schedule -I under Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,
which provides highest protection to the coral reefs.
ii. The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, promulgated under Environment
(Protection) Act 1986, has specific focus on conservation and management plans of
Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), including corals and coral reefs and prohibit
developmental activities and disposal of wastes in their fragile coastal ecosystems.
iii. Ministry of Environment, Forest Climate Change has initiated a long-term programme of
Coral restoration and Marine Biological Stations at several locations.iv. The National Coastal Mission (NCM), which is a Central Sector Scheme under the
National Coastal Management Programme, aims at enhancing the resilience and
sustainability of India’s coastal regions. Development of coral reefs and its management
is one of the identified activities under the National Coastal Mission Under the Mission,
the Government has approved specific projects and activities for the protection,
management and restoration of coral reefs, implemented through coastal States and Union
Territories, with technical support from national institutions. One of the projects
sanctioned under National Coastal Mission Scheme, is ‘Development of Corals and its
Management’ for implementation in Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands by
NCSCM in collaboration with Zoological Survey of India (ZSI).
v. Department of Environment & Forest of Lakshadweep Administration monitors the health
and resilience of corals in collaboration with ZSI and is working on Coral Transplantation
activities for enhanced coral reef cover and bio-diversity in the shallow reefs.
vi. Central Marines Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has undertaken studies to
understand ecological changes affecting coral reefs. CMFRI has initiated a comprehensive
national project aimed at investigating the resilience potential of various coral reefs in
India by integrating advanced climatic modelling, deep-learning, and ecological research
and develop resilience-based management actions ensuring the long-term sustainability of
coral reef ecosystems.
(e) & (f). The primary drivers of coral bleaching have been elevated sea surface temperatures
associated with climate change and ocean warming, including thermal stress linked to El-Niño
events and prolonged periods of above-normal temperatures. Such conditions cause corals to
expel their symbiotic algae, leading to bleaching. However, corals have resilience to recover
depending upon the restoration of the normal sea conditions. Very few major coral bleaching
episodes have been reported, particularly in Lakshadweep, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands,
and the Gulf of Mannar between 2015 and 2026. Coral bleaching is a sporadic event in India,
and such incidents do not have major impact on local economy.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) - a scientific & research
organisation under Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) INCOIS through its
Coral Bleaching Alert System (CBAS), provides operational services including monitoring of
sea surface temperatures (SSTs), marine heatwave events and other oceanic variables. By
utilizing satellite data, buoys, and oceanographic models, INCOIS identifies anomalies and
disseminates Marine Heatwave Alerts to coastal states and relevant stakeholders. These alerts
highlight coral regions impacted by bleaching due to thermal stress. This information supports
experts in understanding the implications for various marine ecosystems and mariculture
activities.
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) monitors coral reefs through coral restoration, coral
transplantation, research on the reproductive biology of corals, and studies of bleaching-
resistant corals. Further, ZSI conducts studies on extent of coral bleaching as part of Long Term
Coral Reef Monitoring Program. ZSI comprehend the resilience of various coral species and
provides critical insights for the formulation of effective conservation strategies and timely
interventions by utilizing advanced climatic modelling techniques. ZSI is working incollaborations with state agencies to oversee the health of coral reefs in all the reef areas of
India.
The Coral Reef Monitoring Robot (C-Bot), developed by the Council of Scientific & Industrial
Research (CSIR) - National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), is employed to gather precise
data regarding coral ecosystems. This robot features underwater imaging and geo-referencing
capabilities, which are vital for continuous monitoring and validation of satellite data, thereby
ensuring accurate evaluations of reef health.
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