Daijiworld Media Network – Honnavar

Honnavar, May 16: A 6-kilometre stretch of coastal and estuarine area extending from Monkey (Aparakonda) to Mugali and Madiyavare in Honnavar is set to be declared the country’s seventh and Karnataka’s first marine sanctuary.

The State Wildlife Board, under the leadership of forest minister Eshwar Khandre, has approved the proposal, and it is now set to receive cabinet approval.

The proposed sanctuary spans a total of 5,960 hectares, including 835.02 hectares of marine area and 835 hectares of land. This region includes 5,400 hectares of mangrove forests, rich in biodiversity and home to several endangered and ecologically significant species.

Representational images

The sanctuary will provide habitat to marine life such as the humpback whale, spotlight shark, olive ridley turtle hatchlings, and more than 80 species of seabirds. Near Netrani Island, the area also hosts 14 types of coral reefs, over 50 species of phytoplankton, more than 100 varieties of zooplankton, 2 species of seagrass, and over 100 types of seaweed. The Honnavar coastline is known for its unique and scenic marine ecosystem, making it a fitting location for such a sanctuary.

The proposal is currently before the cabinet for final approval. It was originally put forward during B S Yediyurappa’s tenure as chief minister, when Rs 1 crore was earmarked for the initiative in the state budget. However, the plan was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

During his tenure as forest officer in Honnavar, Krishna Udupudi had laid the groundwork for eco-tourism by developing sites such as Aparakonda, Eco Beach, Vinayakavana, and Pavitravana. His successor, Vasanth Reddy, expanded these initiatives.

The current forest officer, Yogeesh, has played a pivotal role in the progress of Karnataka’s first marine wildlife sanctuary, thus contributing significantly to both forest conservation and the promotion of tourism in the region.