Extensive bleaching and the threat of probable extinction of coral reefs are major concerns of the current scenario. It is estimated that if the same situation persists, by 2030, 90 percent of coral reefs will be endangered (Baswapoor, Irfan, 2018). The axiomatic statistics have time and again insinuated the non-effective social and legal protection catered to coral reefs. The paper highlights the dreading situation bifurcating it into five parts. The first part introduces the topic and sheds light on coral reefs' existence and their importance in the environment. The second part highlights the international legal initiatives including the UN initiatives to protect and revive coral reefs and their environment. After employing international initiatives as the foundation, the third part of the paper analyzes the Indian legal regime which implicitly or explicitly offers protection to coral reefs. While tracing the development of the legal regime in India, the paper has highlighted the lacuna in strict and separate laws pertaining to coral reefs’ protection and simultaneously makes a case to implement one. The fourth part highlights the current deteriorating situations, the existing natural and anthropogenic threats, recent bleaching and exploitation events and the paper also provides suggestions to safeguard and help in the revival of coral reefs. Lastly, in the fifth part, the paper is concluded. With the help of doctrinal method, the proposed paper has attempted to highlight the current situation and legal regimes both internationally and in India, taking the hypothesis that the lacuna in strict laws for the protection of coral reefs in India and insufficient implementation of the existing ones for coral reefs’ protection is the major cause of its depletion; and man-made threats are more grave and destructive human actions aggravate natural threats.
