Around the world more than 3 billion people are directly or indirectly dependent on our oceans for food, medicines,
shelter, and livelihood. Industries like sea food, tourism and transportation provides livelihood to millions of people
around the globe. Due to climate change and various human activities like oil spills, dumping of waste and extensive
sea bed mining, the quality of the oceans as well as the quality and health of various flora and fauna inhabiting the
oceans have been adversely affected. This in turn causes harm to the human beings and their health thus violating
their basic human right to a healthy life. A clean, safe and healthy environment is a precondition for overall wellbeing
of every human being. The Indian Judiciary has encouraged an innovative approach to environmental rights in the
country. Judicial activism has provided impetus to campaign against various environmental pollution issues arising in
the country in recent times. The Indian Judiciary has interpreted Art. 21 to give it an expanded meaning to bring
within its ambit the right of every citizen to a clean, safe and healthy environment. The Judiciary while showing keen
interest in the environmental issues affecting various aspects of the life of human beings passed appropriate orders,
directions and writs against persons adversely affecting the environment. The Parliament of India has also made
efforts to protect and preserve the marine environment by ratifying various international agreements, treaties and
conventions. Currently efforts are being made at local, national and international level to build Marine Protected
Areas (MPAs); local communities are also standing up for their right to healthy environment and to address the issue
of accumulation of plastic and such other toxic substances in the oceans. But still a lot of ocean conservation efforts,
through laws designed to manage fisheries, land based pollution, formation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), strict
regulation of various hazardous industrial activities and processes, anti-dumping laws and coastal waste management
laws are required to address the issue of marine environment pollution. Moreover lack of awareness among citizens is
also a major impediment in the field of marine environment conservation which also needs to be addressed adequately.
CONTRIBUIÇÕES DAS ÁREAS MARINHAS PROTEGIDAS PARA A CONSERVAÇÃO E A GESTÃO DO AMBIENTE MARINHO
