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Short Communication Volume 15 Issue 2
Management of backwater and brackish water wetlands in India: a scientific opinion
N C Nandi, M Deyashi
Received: July 25, 2026 | Published: August 10, 2026
Citation: Nandi NC, Deyashi M. Management of backwater and brackish water wetlands in India: a scientific opinion. J Aquac Mar Biol. 2026;15(2):108-110. DOI: 10.15406/jamb.2026.15.00449
Abstract
India possesses an expansive coastline stretching over 7,500 km, accompanied by approximately 1.2 million hectares of highly diverse backwater and brackish water wetlands. These ecosystems—spanning lagoons, estuaries, backwaters, and tidal creeks—serve as vital ecological nodes and socioeconomic lifelines for coastal states including West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and Gujarat, as well as Union Territories like Puducherry and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Despite their critical functional roles in coastal defence, biological diversity maintenance, and capture-cum-culture fisheries, these transitional water bodies are increasingly imperilled by anthropogenic pressures, unsustainable land-use conversions, industrial effluent loading, and systemic administrative gaps. This scientific opinion underscores the imperative need for localized and multi-tier management architecture in India. We propose a decentralized governance model involving dedicated Block-level Wetland Wardens and Wetland Managers, backed by local administrative bodies (Panchayats and Municipalities). We advocate for location-specific Action Plans focused on pollution abatement, biodiversity conservation, capacity building, and statutory enforcement. Strengthening field-level monitoring and embedding socioenvironmental equity will ensure the ecological integrity and climate resilience of India’s brackish water ecosystems.
Keywords: brackish water wetlands, backwaters, conservation management, fisheries, biodiversity, governance, wetland wardens, India
©2026 Nandi, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.