THE LAW OF THE REEF: REGULATORY SHORTFALLS IN THE PROTECTION OF CORAL REEFS

Coral reefs are among the most ecologically important marine ecosystems and at the same time among the most susceptible to increasing anthropogenic and climatic stress. Even though extensive coral reefs exist in other regions of India, including the Gulf of Mannar, Lakshadweep, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, their protection is indirect. The paper is a critical analysis of the current regulatory framework for the conservation of coral reefs in India and identifies structural and enforcement-related gaps that are weakening efforts to protect them. By examining domestic environmental laws, coastal controls, and judicial-administrative measures, the paper will show that coral reefs are mostly lost within broader environmental and wildlife legislation that lacks much ecosystem specificity. The paper also assesses India's international commitments under various instruments, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, and evaluates the extent to which India has implemented them at the national level. The article compares ecological facts with two levels of legal response, suggesting that the ineffective application of existing laws and the lack of a dedicated statutory framework are among the culprits in the degradation of the reefs. The paper examines the reasons why a reef-based, coherent regulatory framework is needed to unite conservation concerns with sustainable coastal governance.