Karnataka is on track to establish its first marine sanctuary in the Uttara Kannada district, marking a significant step towards conserving the region's rich marine biodiversity. A key committee of the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife (SBWL), chaired by Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, has officially approved the proposal for the sanctuary, which is now awaiting formal endorsement from the state cabinet.
The Mugli-Apsarakonda Marine Sanctuary in Karnataka will become India's seventh marine sanctuary, joining the existing ones in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as well as the single sanctuaries in Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.