Island Coastal Regulation Zone-IA (ICRZ-IA)

The Island Coastal Regulation Zone–IA (ICRZ–IA) represents a specific category within India’s coastal management framework designed to protect and regulate activities along the island coastlines, particularly in ecologically sensitive areas. This classification is part of the broader Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, which extends to islands such as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands. The ICRZ–IA category identifies and safeguards the most ecologically fragile portions of island coastlines, ensuring that development, tourism, and habitation occur without compromising environmental sustainability or coastal stability.

Background and Legal Framework

The concept of coastal regulation in India originates from the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 1991, issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The regulation aimed to control developmental activities along the coastline to conserve coastal ecosystems and maintain their ecological balance. Recognising the unique geographical and ecological characteristics of India’s island territories, the Government of India later introduced the Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) Notification, 2011, and subsequently updated it through the CRZ Notification, 2019.
Under these regulations, coastal stretches in island territories are classified into distinct zones—ICRZ–IA, ICRZ–IB, ICRZ–II, and ICRZ–III—each defining permissible and prohibited activities based on ecological sensitivity, existing habitation, and developmental needs.

Definition and Scope of ICRZ–IA

The ICRZ–IA zone includes ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) that are highly vulnerable to environmental degradation and where minimal human interference is permitted. These zones are defined along the coastlines of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands, including small uninhabited islands, coral reefs, mangroves, lagoons, and turtle nesting beaches.
According to the 2019 Notification, ICRZ–IA comprises:

• Areas designated as Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs) such as mangroves, corals, coral reefs, sand dunes, salt marshes, turtle nesting grounds, and seagrass beds.
• Areas close to breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life.
• Heritage and archaeological sites of national or international importance situated along the coast.
• National parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, and reserve forests situated within the island coastal stretches.

These areas are delineated through detailed mapping using 1:25,000 scale Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) prepared by island administrations and approved by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

Objectives and Importance

The primary objectives of ICRZ–IA classification include:

• Conservation of coastal biodiversity, particularly coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass meadows that support fishery resources and coastal livelihoods.
• Protection against coastal erosion and sea-level rise, through the natural defence provided by mangroves, dunes, and coral systems.
• Restriction of human-induced degradation, such as pollution, land reclamation, and unregulated tourism.
• Ensuring sustainable development through environment-compatible infrastructure planning in nearby zones.

Given that small island ecosystems are inherently fragile, the ICRZ–IA framework plays a pivotal role in balancing conservation priorities with limited socio-economic development needs.

Regulatory Provisions and Restrictions

Activities within the ICRZ–IA zone are highly regulated and often prohibited, except for those essential to ecological maintenance, conservation, and traditional subsistence. The main restrictions include:

• No new construction is allowed except those directly related to coastal protection, bioshielding, or eco-restoration projects.
• No land reclamation, bunding, or dredging is permitted except for traditional fishing or essential public utilities.
• Prohibition of mining, drilling, and sand extraction in ecologically sensitive zones.
• No disposal of waste or effluents that could affect the ecosystem.
• Tourism and recreation facilities are not permitted unless approved under specific eco-tourism plans designed with minimal ecological impact.

Permissible activities under strict regulation include:

• Conservation and management works such as construction of watchtowers, anti-poaching camps, and eco-sensitive shelters.
• Projects related to weather observation, communication towers, and security installations of strategic importance.
• Traditional rights of local and Indigenous communities for fishing, collection of forest produce, and sustainable use of resources in accordance with customary practices.

Ecological Characteristics and Examples

The ICRZ–IA category typically encompasses critical coastal ecosystems, such as:

• Coral reefs in the Andaman Sea and Lakshadweep Lagoon, which act as breeding grounds for marine species.
• Mangrove forests like those found in Middle Andaman and Nicobar Islands, providing habitat to saltwater crocodiles and migratory birds.
• Sea turtle nesting beaches such as Galathea Bay (Great Nicobar Island) and Kalipur (North Andaman).
• Seagrass meadows supporting dugongs (sea cows), a globally vulnerable species.
• Sand dunes and coastal wetlands that act as buffers against storm surges and wave action.

These ecosystems are highly sensitive to anthropogenic pressures such as coral mining, coastal construction, sewage discharge, and unregulated tourism, hence their inclusion under ICRZ–IA ensures legal protection and active management.

Institutional Mechanisms for Implementation

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the nodal authority responsible for issuing notifications, approving CZMPs, and overseeing compliance in coordination with the Union Territory Administrations of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep.
At the local level, Island Coastal Zone Management Authorities (ICZMAs) implement and monitor the provisions of the notification. These authorities ensure:

• Enforcement of prohibitions and restrictions under ICRZ–IA.
• Periodic review and updating of CZMPs.
• Coordination with local panchayats and departments for awareness, enforcement, and monitoring.

Scientific and research organisations such as the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), and Space Applications Centre (SAC–ISRO) contribute to mapping, data validation, and ecosystem monitoring.

Challenges and Threats

Despite its protective framework, several challenges persist in implementing ICRZ–IA regulations:

• Rising sea levels and coastal erosion threaten the physical existence of small islands.
• Tourism pressures, including construction of resorts and jetties, often conflict with conservation goals.
• Lack of local awareness and enforcement capacity in remote island areas.
• Climate change impacts on coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and increased frequency of cyclones.
• Unregulated resource extraction and coastal pollution in some inhabited islands.

These issues require adaptive management strategies, community-based monitoring, and enhanced inter-agency coordination to maintain the ecological balance of island systems.

Significance for Sustainable Island Management

The ICRZ–IA framework holds immense significance for achieving the principles of sustainable island development. By conserving natural ecosystems, it ensures long-term economic and ecological security. Coral reefs and mangroves serve as natural barriers protecting island communities from storms and coastal flooding, while supporting fisheries and tourism industries that sustain livelihoods.