Karwar: According to the sources, the first marine sanctuary in Karnataka would be launched near Honnavara, Uttara Kannada District, in early 2022.

The sanctuary will open in the following year with the goal of conserving, protecting, and rehabilitating marine animals found along the coast such as Olive Ridley turtles, bottlenose dolphins, spot-tail sharks, and whitetip sharks.

Former Chief Minister B. S. Yediyurappa, who previously served as the head of the Karnataka Wildlife Board, has set aside Rs. 1 crore to build the marine sanctuary.

India currently has six marine national parks, two in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, one each in Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.