Assessment of Coastal Water Quality Parameters of Selected Areas of Marine National Park & Sanctuary (Okha, Sikka & Khijadiya)

Gujarat is a state located in the North-West coast of India. It is known locally as Jewel of the West. It has an area of 196,204 km2 (75,755 sq mi) with a coastline of 1,650 km (about 990 mile). As per the Government notification of Gujarat State, an area of 457.92 km2 of MNP & S includes 148.92 km2 of 42 small and big Islands with coral reefs and mangrove forests and 309 km2 intertidal areas along the coast. Coastal area is the most dynamic and productive ecosystems, industry and tourism (Xiaojun, 2008). The physicochemical qualities of sea water are very important and critical for the health biodiversity existing in entire Gulf of Kachchh. The analysis of physico-chemical and plankton in the present study has achieved some important findings. The obtained results highlight that there is a pronounced variation in most of the water quality parameters with variation in season and geographical location.