Marine

What is a Marine Ecosystem?

The marine ecosystem covers all ocean and coastal life. From coral reefs and seagrass meadows to mangroves and open sea, it is defined by the presence of saltwater and the diverse life forms specially adapted to live in or near it. Covering over 70 per cent of Earth’s surface, it supports an immense diversity of life.

What Does India’s Coastline Look Like?

India’s coastline stretches over 7,500 km, touching nine coastal states and two island territories. This long shoreline—ranging from sandy beaches to rocky shores, intertidal zones, estuaries, and coral reefs—creates marine ecosystems for thousands of species and supports millions of people through fisheries and coastal livelihoods.

India’s Richest Marine Ecosystems: Atolls, Reefs, Seagrass Meadows

The Gulf of Mannar, off Tamil Nadu, is one of India’s richest marine zones, home to over 3600 species, including corals, reef fish, sea cucumbers, dugongs, and molluscs. Its seagrass meadows are especially vital for the dugong, a shy herbivorous marine mammal.

In the Lakshadweep Islands, atoll reefs support vibrant coral communities, reef fish, and invertebrates, and serve as natural shields against coastal erosion. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, meanwhile, host fringing and deeper reefs frequented by dolphins, manta rays, and even blue whales.

Along the eastern coast, Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha is globally significant as the largest nesting site for olive ridley turtles, where thousands arrive each year in mass nesting events called arribadas.

How is the Climate Crisis Affecting Oceans?

Yet India’s marine ecosystems face mounting threats. Ocean warming has caused repeated coral bleaching across the coast of India. Overfishing, plastic pollution, coastal development, and destructive bottom trawling further degrade these fragile systems.

Though often hidden from view, marine ecosystems are vital to climate regulation, food security, and biodiversity. However, they are fragile—protecting them is not just about saving marine life, but securing our shared future. 

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Whale Shark: Facts, Diet, Conservation
Infographic
Whale Shark: Facts, Diet, Conservation
Parrotfish: Facts, Habits, Threats
Infographic
Parrotfish: Facts, Habits, Threats
Mantis Shrimp: Facts, Eyesight, Strike
Infographic
Mantis Shrimp: Facts, Eyesight, Strike
Angelfish: Facts, Habitat, Threats
Infographic
Angelfish: Facts, Habitat, Threats
Life of Corals: Witnessing an Ecosystem in Collapse
Conservation
Life of Corals: Witnessing an Ecosystem in Collapse
Marine Flatworms: Facts, Social Habits, Diet
Infographic
Marine Flatworms: Facts, Social Habits, Diet
Triggerfish: Facts, Habits, Threats
Infographic
Triggerfish: Facts, Habits, Threats
The Conservation Paradox: Missing the Meadows for the Green Turtles
Conservation
The Conservation Paradox: Missing the Meadows for the Green Turtles
Marine Flatworms: Magic Carpets of the Seas
Species
Marine Flatworms: Magic Carpets of the Seas
Moray Eels: Delightful or Deadly?
Wild Vault
Moray Eels: Delightful or Deadly?
Sea Turtles: Ancient Mariners of the Indian Ocean
Photo Story
Sea Turtles: Ancient Mariners of the Indian Ocean
Tenacious Triggerfish: The Territorial Reef Residents
Species
Tenacious Triggerfish: The Territorial Reef Residents
Butterflyfish: Facts, Habits, Jaw Morphologies
Infographic
Butterflyfish: Facts, Habits, Jaw Morphologies
A Fisher's Guide to Conservation: How to Identify Sharks
Film
A Fisher's Guide to Conservation: How to Identify Sharks
Into the Depths
Film
Into the Depths
The Unseen World of Corals
Film
The Unseen World of Corals
Coral Reefs: True Treasures of the Andaman Islands
Photo Story
Coral Reefs: True Treasures of the Andaman Islands
Marine Bioacoustics: The Sound of Water
Film
Marine Bioacoustics: The Sound of Water
Mumbai’s Tide Pools: A Secret World
Film
Mumbai’s Tide Pools: A Secret World
Colours of the Sea: A Light Show Under the Waves
Photo Story
Colours of the Sea: A Light Show Under the Waves
Stranger than Fiction: The Inscrutable Mind of the Genius Octopus
Film
Stranger than Fiction: The Inscrutable Mind of the Genius Octopus
Galathea Bay: Will the World's Largest Sea Turtle Return to Nest in India?
Film
Galathea Bay: Will the World's Largest Sea Turtle Return to Nest in India?
Between Land and Water: The Dual Life of a Sea Krait
Film
Between Land and Water: The Dual Life of a Sea Krait
Super Plankton: The Invisible Marvels that Sustain Our Oceans
Film
Super Plankton: The Invisible Marvels that Sustain Our Oceans
Oysters: Tied to the Web of Life
Species
Oysters: Tied to the Web of Life
Did You Know? Starfish and How They Regenerate
Wild Vault
Did You Know? Starfish and How They Regenerate
Marine National Park: A Walk in the Intertidal Zone at Narara
Travel
Marine National Park: A Walk in the Intertidal Zone at Narara
Chitons: Primitive Inhabitants of Today’s Seashores
Species
Chitons: Primitive Inhabitants of Today’s Seashores
Hiding in Plain Sight: Mumbai’s Tide Pools and the City Beyond the Shore
Photo Story
Hiding in Plain Sight: Mumbai’s Tide Pools and the City Beyond the Shore
The Guide: Malvan Marine Sanctuary
Travel
The Guide: Malvan Marine Sanctuary
Celebrating the Festive Season with an Underwater Christmas Tree
Mixed media
Celebrating the Festive Season with an Underwater Christmas Tree
Small Fish: Thumbelinas of the Sea
Photo Story
Small Fish: Thumbelinas of the Sea
Under the Pale Moonlight: The Nightlife of Lakshadweep’s Reefs
Photo Story
Under the Pale Moonlight: The Nightlife of Lakshadweep’s Reefs
The Olive Ridley Turtle's TED Talk
Green Humour
The Olive Ridley Turtle's TED Talk
Life in a Seagrass Meadow
Photo Story
Life in a Seagrass Meadow
The Fish That Quit Horsing Around
Photo Story
The Fish That Quit Horsing Around
Christmas Tree Worms: Facts, Marine Habitat, Food
Infographic
Christmas Tree Worms: Facts, Marine Habitat, Food
A New Underwater Meadow Along India’s East Coast
Habitat
A New Underwater Meadow Along India’s East Coast
Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras in a Race Against Extinction
Conservation
Sharks, Rays and Chimaeras in a Race Against Extinction
Arribadabadoo! The Olive Ridley Turtle Arribada Breaks All Records
Green Humour
Arribadabadoo! The Olive Ridley Turtle Arribada Breaks All Records
Flying Fish: The OG Champions of Outdoor Adventure Sport
Green Humour
Flying Fish: The OG Champions of Outdoor Adventure Sport
The Anemonefish-Anemone Partnership: Not Just Clowning Around
Species
The Anemonefish-Anemone Partnership: Not Just Clowning Around
Gooseneck Barnacles: Rare Delicacy or Dinosaur Feet?
Species
Gooseneck Barnacles: Rare Delicacy or Dinosaur Feet?
Swimming Amongst Fossils: What Sponges Tell Us About the World
Species
Swimming Amongst Fossils: What Sponges Tell Us About the World
Bright and Bristly: Christmas Tree Worms and Their Festive Whorls
Species
Bright and Bristly: Christmas Tree Worms and Their Festive Whorls
Sand Scavengers: Ghost Crabs in the Intertidal Zone of Chennai’s Elliot’s Beach
Species
Sand Scavengers: Ghost Crabs in the Intertidal Zone of Chennai’s Elliot’s Beach
Sea Slugs: Facts, Predators and Defensive Tricks
Infographic
Sea Slugs: Facts, Predators and Defensive Tricks
The Squid’s Game: Masters of Defence
Mixed media
The Squid’s Game: Masters of Defence
Angelfish: Bright Blues and Graceful Swims
Species
Angelfish: Bright Blues and Graceful Swims
Turbid Seas: A Soup of Minerals and Marine Wonders
Wild Vault
Turbid Seas: A Soup of Minerals and Marine Wonders
Damselfish: Facts, Habitats, Courtship
Infographic
Damselfish: Facts, Habitats, Courtship
The Rise and Fall of Acropora
Species
The Rise and Fall of Acropora
Deadpool: The Dynamic Cuttlefish Mating System
Photo Story
Deadpool: The Dynamic Cuttlefish Mating System
Secrets of Survival: Struggle and Strife Between the Tides
Photo Story
Secrets of Survival: Struggle and Strife Between the Tides
Marine Ecosystems: Facts, Habitats, and Species
Explainer
Marine Ecosystems: Facts, Habitats, and Species
Birding Around the Salt Pans of Tuticorin
Wild Vault
Birding Around the Salt Pans of Tuticorin
Nudibranchs: The Secret Colourful World of Sea Slugs
Photo Story
Nudibranchs: The Secret Colourful World of Sea Slugs
Coral Reefs of India: What Makes them Important Ecosystems
Explainer
Coral Reefs of India: What Makes them Important Ecosystems
Life of Corals: The Reef Assembly
Habitat
Life of Corals: The Reef Assembly
Mantis Shrimp: Eye-popping Predators of Reefs and Seagrass Meadows
Species
Mantis Shrimp: Eye-popping Predators of Reefs and Seagrass Meadows
Mate and Die: Mysteries of Octopus Sex
Photo Story
Mate and Die: Mysteries of Octopus Sex
Tiny But Tenacious: Micro Life on the Andaman Reef
Photo Story
Tiny But Tenacious: Micro Life on the Andaman Reef
The Genius Octopus: Programmed to Deceive
Species
The Genius Octopus: Programmed to Deceive
Life After Dark: The Night Shift on a Coral Reef
Wild Vault
Life After Dark: The Night Shift on a Coral Reef
Twilight Zone: A Tale Between Two Tides
Wild Vault
Twilight Zone: A Tale Between Two Tides
Eel Hunter: The Amphibious Life of Sea Kraits
Species
Eel Hunter: The Amphibious Life of Sea Kraits
Wild Shores:  Life in a Tide Pool
Habitat
Wild Shores: Life in a Tide Pool
Worlds Apart: The Dual Life of Marine Animals
Wild Vault
Worlds Apart: The Dual Life of Marine Animals
Save the Whale Sharks of the Lakshadweep Islands
Conservation
Save the Whale Sharks of the Lakshadweep Islands
Leatherback Sea Turtles: Giants of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Conservation
Leatherback Sea Turtles: Giants of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Leatherback Turtle: Facts, Habitat, Migration
Infographic
Leatherback Turtle: Facts, Habitat, Migration
Crypsis Unmasked: Marine Masters of Disguise and Their Tools
Photo Story
Crypsis Unmasked: Marine Masters of Disguise and Their Tools
Peering Inside a Pocillopora
Photo Story
Peering Inside a Pocillopora
Finding Nori: Journey into the Underwater World of Seaweeds
Species
Finding Nori: Journey into the Underwater World of Seaweeds
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin: Facts, Habitat, Threats
Infographic
Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin: Facts, Habitat, Threats
Sea Urchins: Defence Mechanism, Habitat, Threats
Infographic
Sea Urchins: Defence Mechanism, Habitat, Threats
Parrotfish: Rainbows in the Reef
Species
Parrotfish: Rainbows in the Reef
An Ode to Sponges
Species
An Ode to Sponges
Squids: Facts, Diet, Threats
Infographic
Squids: Facts, Diet, Threats
Sea Cucumbers: Facts, Diet, Threats
Infographic
Sea Cucumbers: Facts, Diet, Threats
Dolphins and Porpoises: What’s the Difference?
Explainer
Dolphins and Porpoises: What’s the Difference?
Odd Shape of You: Atypical Fish in the Ocean
Photo Story
Odd Shape of You: Atypical Fish in the Ocean
Boxfish: Facts, Diet, Habitat
Infographic
Boxfish: Facts, Diet, Habitat
Lionfish: Facts, Habitat, Venom
Infographic
Lionfish: Facts, Habitat, Venom
Good News for the Sharks?
Green Humour
Good News for the Sharks?
Beauty or Beast? The Lionfish Conundrum
Species
Beauty or Beast? The Lionfish Conundrum
Sharks: Facts, Jaws, Threats
Infographic
Sharks: Facts, Jaws, Threats
Decoding Dugong Days in Indian Waters
Conservation
Decoding Dugong Days in Indian Waters
Acroporid Affiliations in the Lagoons of Lakshadweep
Photo Story
Acroporid Affiliations in the Lagoons of Lakshadweep
Whale Shark Strandings Increase Along Andhra Pradesh Coast
Conservation
Whale Shark Strandings Increase Along Andhra Pradesh Coast
Through the Magic Portal, to a World of Marine Superheroes
Book
Through the Magic Portal, to a World of Marine Superheroes
Mumbai’s Mangroves: Forests of Breathing Roots
Urban Jungle
Mumbai’s Mangroves: Forests of Breathing Roots
Under Cover: Ecosystems in the Sand
Habitat
Under Cover: Ecosystems in the Sand
Long Live the Greenland Sharks
Green Humour
Long Live the Greenland Sharks
The Blue-Striped Fangblenny Works Smart, Not Hard
Green Humour
The Blue-Striped Fangblenny Works Smart, Not Hard
Evading Predators: Lessons from Under the Sea
Photo Story
Evading Predators: Lessons from Under the Sea
Would You Rather Be Trolled or Trawled?
Green Humour
Would You Rather Be Trolled or Trawled?
The Ray Needs a Ray of Hope
Green Humour
The Ray Needs a Ray of Hope
Blennies: Facts, Lifespan, and Life on the Coral Reefs
Infographic
Blennies: Facts, Lifespan, and Life on the Coral Reefs
Olive Ridley Turtle: Facts, Diet, and Nesting
Infographic
Olive Ridley Turtle: Facts, Diet, and Nesting
Octopus: Facts, Diet, Anatomy, Habitat
Infographic
Octopus: Facts, Diet, Anatomy, Habitat
Decorator Crabs: Facts, Size, Shells
Infographic
Decorator Crabs: Facts, Size, Shells
Mudskippers: Facts, Appearance, Amphibious Fish
Infographic
Mudskippers: Facts, Appearance, Amphibious Fish
How the Coastal Road Threatens Mumbai’s Secret Marine World
Mixed media
How the Coastal Road Threatens Mumbai’s Secret Marine World
Coral Gardens: Artworks Under Indian Seas
Photo Story
Coral Gardens: Artworks Under Indian Seas
Crawl, Burrow, Swim: Little Champions of the Sundarbans Ecosystem
Photo Story
Crawl, Burrow, Swim: Little Champions of the Sundarbans Ecosystem
Cracking the Schooling Fish Code: The Andaman story
Photo Story
Cracking the Schooling Fish Code: The Andaman story
Lakshadweep Islands: Radiant Speckles in the Sea
Photo Story
Lakshadweep Islands: Radiant Speckles in the Sea
Cleaning Symbiosis: Underwater Hygiene with the Ocean’s Favourite Cleaning Experts
Photo Story
Cleaning Symbiosis: Underwater Hygiene with the Ocean’s Favourite Cleaning Experts
The Secret Life of Squids
Photo Story
The Secret Life of Squids
Common Venomous Reef Creatures of the Shallow Seas
Photo Story
Common Venomous Reef Creatures of the Shallow Seas
Gutsy Gulls: Trick or Treating on the Water
Photo Story
Gutsy Gulls: Trick or Treating on the Water
Kartik Shanker: Researcher, Ecologist, Storyteller
Hero
Kartik Shanker: Researcher, Ecologist, Storyteller
Puja Mitra: Changing the Tide for Goa’s Marine Life
Hero
Puja Mitra: Changing the Tide for Goa’s Marine Life
When Danger Lurks: Toxic Beauties in Action
Column
When Danger Lurks: Toxic Beauties in Action
A Half Century of Sea Turtle Conservation
Column
A Half Century of Sea Turtle Conservation
Island Fever: A Lifelong Obsession with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Column
Island Fever: A Lifelong Obsession with the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The Zen of Diving
Column
The Zen of Diving
Tamil Nadu’s Seaweed Harvesters in Rough Seas
News
Tamil Nadu’s Seaweed Harvesters in Rough Seas
The Power of Poop: Making a Case for Whale Waste
Wild Vault
The Power of Poop: Making a Case for Whale Waste
Not Just Jaws: Shark Facts Fresh from Indian Seas
Wild Vault
Not Just Jaws: Shark Facts Fresh from Indian Seas
Do Not Touch: Toxin Generating Sea Creatures from India’s Coasts
Wild Vault
Do Not Touch: Toxin Generating Sea Creatures from India’s Coasts
Arribada: The Mystery of the Olive Ridley Turtle Migration
Wild Vault
Arribada: The Mystery of the Olive Ridley Turtle Migration
Fishy Phenomena: Sex on the Reef
Wild Vault
Fishy Phenomena: Sex on the Reef
Whale Fall: Food Bonanza on the Ocean Floor
Wild Vault
Whale Fall: Food Bonanza on the Ocean Floor
Parenting Lessons From the Sea
Wild Vault
Parenting Lessons From the Sea
A Date with Mumbai’s Marine Wildlife
Urban Jungle
A Date with Mumbai’s Marine Wildlife
Treasure or Trash? When Unwanted Fish Sustain Livelihoods
Conservation
Treasure or Trash? When Unwanted Fish Sustain Livelihoods
Sea Cucumbers: Countering the Illegal Trade
Conservation
Sea Cucumbers: Countering the Illegal Trade
Gulf of Mannar’s Corals Endangered by Marine Debris
Conservation
Gulf of Mannar’s Corals Endangered by Marine Debris
Seagrass Meadows on the Ocean Floor
Habitat
Seagrass Meadows on the Ocean Floor
Life of Corals: The Origin Story
Habitat
Life of Corals: The Origin Story
Project Camouflage: Styles and Survival Strategies of Decorator Crabs
Species
Project Camouflage: Styles and Survival Strategies of Decorator Crabs
Bewitching Blennies: Pixies of the Seas
Species
Bewitching Blennies: Pixies of the Seas
Smart and Saucy: The Story of Wild Squids
Species
Smart and Saucy: The Story of Wild Squids
Exploring the Coral Reefs of Goa’s Grande Island
Habitat
Exploring the Coral Reefs of Goa’s Grande Island
Midnight Miracle: Waiting for Mother Turtles by the Beach
Book
Midnight Miracle: Waiting for Mother Turtles by the Beach
Boxfish: An Evolutionary Guide to Self-preservation
Species
Boxfish: An Evolutionary Guide to Self-preservation
So Long, and Thanks for All the Plastic
Conservation
So Long, and Thanks for All the Plastic
Dwindling Dugongs: Meandering Trails in Seagrass Meadows
Species
Dwindling Dugongs: Meandering Trails in Seagrass Meadows
Sea Cucumbers: Illegal trade and the Blame Game
Conservation
Sea Cucumbers: Illegal trade and the Blame Game
Sea Cucumbers: Silent Superheroes of the Seas
Species
Sea Cucumbers: Silent Superheroes of the Seas
Nine Facts That Make Nudibranchs Even Cooler
Green Humour
Nine Facts That Make Nudibranchs Even Cooler
Swaying in Silence: The Hypnotic Beauty of  Sea Anemones
Photo Story
Swaying in Silence: The Hypnotic Beauty of Sea Anemones
Friends in Low Places: Connecting with the Ocean
Conservation
Friends in Low Places: Connecting with the Ocean
The Fabulous, Functional World of Sea Slugs
Species
The Fabulous, Functional World of Sea Slugs
Ghost Crab: Facts, Diet, Habitat
Infographic
Ghost Crab: Facts, Diet, Habitat
Seahorses: Facts, Diet, Threats
Infographic
Seahorses: Facts, Diet, Threats
Pincers and Claws: Crabs of the Konkan Coast
Photo Story
Pincers and Claws: Crabs of the Konkan Coast
Hawkfish Hues: Of Underwater Hunts and Hairy Spines
Species
Hawkfish Hues: Of Underwater Hunts and Hairy Spines
Shrimp Showcase: Much More Than Small Fry
Photo Story
Shrimp Showcase: Much More Than Small Fry
New Conservation Reserve Offers Glimmer of Hope for Dugongs
Conservation
New Conservation Reserve Offers Glimmer of Hope for Dugongs
Frightened by A Fish
Wild Vault
Frightened by A Fish
Great Barracuda: Shiny and Scary but Surprisingly Shy
Species
Great Barracuda: Shiny and Scary but Surprisingly Shy
Veganism Defined by Whale Sharks
Green Humour
Veganism Defined by Whale Sharks
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