Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch

Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch
IUCN Category II (National Park)
Location Map
Location	Jamnagar District, Gujarat, India
Nearest city	Jamnagar
Area	162.89 km²
Established	1982
Governing body	Forest Department of Gujarat

Marine National Park in the Gulf of Kutch is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of Kachchh in the Jamnagar District of Gujarat state, India. In 1980, an area of 270 km². from Okha to Jodiya was declared Marine Sanctuary. Later, in 1982, a core area of 110 km² was declared Marine National Park under the provisions of the Wildlife (protection) Act, 1972 of India. It is the first national marine park of India. There are 42 islands on the Jamnagar coast in the Marine National Park, most of them surrounded by reefs. The best known island is Pirotan.^[1] Among the fauna found here include: coral, dugong and the finless porpoise.

Biodiversity and Conservation challenges

Marine National Park of Gulf of Kutchh is a fragile ecosystem. In recent years, biodiversity of marine park has been under threat on several scores like extraction of corals and sands by cement industries, increased turbidity of water, oil refineries, chemical industries and mechanised fishing boats.^[1]

Biodiversity ^[1]

Particulars	Species Diversity
Algae	108
Corals (Hard and soft)	56
Sponges	70
Fish	200
Prawns	27
Crabs	30
Molluscs	400+
Turtles	3
Sea snakes	3
Birds	175
Mammals	3

Notes and references

1. ^ ^{a b c} Apte, Deepak. Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutchh: A conservation challenge. Bombay Natural History Society. pp. 26–27. http://www.bnhs.org/bo/documents/GulfofKutch.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-22. 

External Links

• Images Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park in Jamnagar
• Birds and Wildlife in Jamnagar
• Hard Corals Order:Scleractinia From Gulf of Kutch

• Tourist Information

Coordinates: 22°28′00″N 69°37′00″E / 22.4667°N 69.6167°E / 22.4667; 69.6167