Vaidik Sohani, School of Law, Forensic Justice and Policy Studies, National Forensic Sciences University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
ABSTRACT
The globe at this juncture is unfolding the heights of economic development and catering to multidimensional needs. But today, every nation in the world is obligated to keep in mind and address the shout of environmental protection. Environmental protection has become a highlighted central issue in the contemporary scenario, and the world has pledged to contribute collectively to mitigating environmental risks. One of the prominent resources today and since time immemorial that assist development in numerous ways is marine resources and maritime trade and commerce. Almost 97% of trade and commerce depends on the marine sector because of its distinct features, such as Safety and Bulk maneuvering. Not only it champions the domain of trade and commerce, but it also acts as a lifeline for fisheries. Fisheries handsomely utilize the seas and oceans to accomplish the commercial demand for seafood in the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) Market, as can be rightly established by data sourced from the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying that in Financial Year 2023-24, India has exported 17,81,602 Metric Tons of Seafood, that costs around 60,523 Crore1. Other Economic activities associated with EEZs (Exclusive Economic Zones) such as mining, the establishment of oil rigs for natural resources extraction, the Construction of Solid surfaces by altering seabed such as ports, cofferdams, use of excess radio waves, sonar (Sound Navigation and Ranging) disruption in the marine environment and culminating to an unfit and unfavorable environment for marine biodiversity.
All such reliance on seas and oceans hampers the livability of marine animals and causes disruptions in food chains in an intra-marine environment. It also causes disturbances in the growth of floras such as phytoplankton, seagrass, and algae germinating and thriving under the marine environment, which are essential sources of nutrients for marine organisms and a vital part of the food chain in the marine ecosystem as well.
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