Abstract:
Oceans play a vital role in sustaining marine life and human well-being, offering essential ecosystem services, including regulating coastal temperature and rainfall, supporting ecosystems such as the coral reef ecosystem, mangrove ecosystem, and estuarine ecosystem, food production, carbon sequestration, and tourism among others. Numerous marine species depend on healthy ocean ecosystems and their survival is directly influenced by the scale of anthropogenic activities in the region. It is important to study the interconnectedness of humans and non-humans in marine areas to fully appreciate their mutual dependencies and implications for ocean health and sustainability.
Earlier studies have explored human-centric approaches for sustainable management of marine resources, which are beneficial for both people and marine ecosystems. These studies suggest that human-centered frameworks could also enhance the protection of non-humans in the oceans. However, there is a lack of research on this topic specific to India, given its extensive 7,500 km coastline. This underscores the need to investigate the human–non-human–marine area nexus in this part of the world, to support the environmentally sustainable management of its marine regions.
The study addresses this gap by identifying, acknowledging and documenting the contributions of marine non-humans to humans, and how they support the region’s economy, ecology, and communities. It attempts to investigate key indicators playing a critical role in human-marine environment dynamics. While the study emphasizes large marine animals in the human-marine environmental dynamics, it also acknowledges the significance of other marine species, habitats, and ecosystems, including phytoplankton and zooplankton. The study includes systematic literature review considering possible sources of information and stakeholder consultations at various levels.
The study would result in a guiding framework, highlighting the importance of establishing institutional structures addressing the human–non-human–marine area nexus. At its nascent stage, it offers strategic recommendations aimed at safeguarding human rights in coastal areas while simultaneously protecting and conserving marine biodiversity. This framework can serve as a valuable reference for policymakers and researchers who are seeking effective measures and inclusive approaches for better marine resource management and marine ecosystem governance.