Mumbai, Dec 02: Maintaining the commitment to protect marine heritage and biodiversity, Vice-Admiral Suresh Mehta, Director General, Indian Coast Guard today said the force would cooperate with the marine life conservationists to protect the marine biodiversity from all kinds of threat.
Speaking at a function at Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), he said without compromising the law of the land and sea, Coast Guard will work closely with natural scientists to safeguard the marine life which is also part of the national security.
Maritime dimension has added a greater responsibility to Coast Guard, he said, adding "we have taken up with the government to bring in legislation for sea unworthy ships which pose a major pollution hazard of sea water".
Coast Guard has been working on various conservation projects including that of "operation olive" in saving sea turtles for over last 22 years, he said and added that the suggestions made for the Orissa coast and Andaman and Nicobar islands would be immediately implemented.
"As recommended, we will have smaller vessels on the Orissa coast," he said.
The scientists had asked the Coast Guard to use smaller vessels near the coast instead of big vessels along the Orissa coast to be eco-friendly with turtles and help in saving coral reefs (which forms one the largest reefs in the world) in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Bureau Report