Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority has been constituted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India in exercise of the power conferred by sub-section (1) and (3) of section (3) of the Environment (protection) Act, 1986. The Authority has the mandate to take measures for protective and improving the quality of the coastal environment. The mandate also includes preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in the coastal regulation zone of Karnataka State. The Authority is conferred with the powers to examine the proposals for change or modification in the classification of coastal regulation zone, enquire into cases of alleged violation of the provisions of the said Act and to review the cases involving violations of the provisions.

The Authority functions under the Chairpersonship of the Principal Secretary to Government, Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, Government of Karnataka and has head quarters at Bangalore. The Department of Ecology and Environment provides secretarial assistance to the Authority. The District Coastal Management Committees in the three coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara kannada assist the Authority in discharging the mandatory functions.