Bengaluru: The Karnataka state cabinet has approved the declaration of 5,959.322 hectares of land — including a 6 km stretch of coastal area and adjoining forest region in Honnavar, Uttara Kannada district — as the Apsarakonda-Mugali Marine Wildlife Sanctuary. The decision was taken during the cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday.

With this cabinet approval, Apsarakonda-Mugali becomes the first marine sanctuary in Karnataka and the seventh in India — following two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and one each in Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.

Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil clarified that traditional fishing and entry of fishermen’s boats will not be restricted in the newly declared marine sanctuary. The rights of the local residents will also remain unaffected. The sanctuary includes 8.21 km of Honnavar coastline, with marine area up to 6 km into the sea and 835 hectares of forest land. The move aims primarily at conserving marine life.

In other decisions, the cabinet has approved the appointment of retired public prosecutor Sanjay B. Bhatt to the post of Senior Assistant Public Prosecutor, which is currently vacant in the Karnataka Lokayukta institution. Additionally, retired District and Sessions Judge Ramakant Chavhan has been appointed as Additional Registrar (Inquiries) in the Karnataka Lokayukta.