The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023

News: The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 has been passed by both Houses of the Parliament of India.

Background:
• The Bill amends the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005.

What is Coastal Aquaculture?
• The Act defines coastal aquaculture as farming, under controlled conditions, of: (i) shrimp, (ii) prawn, (iii) fish or (iv) any other aquatic life in saline or brackish water.
• The Bill expands the scope of coastal aquaculture to include allied activities such as hatcheries and nucleus breeding centres.

What are the key provisions of the bill?

Regulation of allied activities
• The Act regulates coastal aquaculture farms. This includes culturing shrimp, prawn fish or other aquatic life in a controlled environment along coastal areas in saline or brackish water.
• The Bill allows regulation of allied activities such as nucleus breeding centres and hatcheries.
• Nucleus breeding centres are those where fish/shrimp are cultivated at the larvae stage of their life cycle.

Some allied activities in protected areas
• The Act prohibits coastal aquaculture in certain areas, such as 200 metres within the High Tide Line and in creeks/backwaters within the CRZ.
• The Bill amends this to allow some allied activities in protected areas. For instance: (i) activities like nucleus breeding centres will be permitted to operate in no development zones, and (ii) activities like sea weed culture will be permitted in creeks/backwaters within the CRZ.

Coastal aquaculture authority
• Under the Act, functions of the Authority include - (i) regulating construction and operation of aquaculture farms, (ii) registering coastal aquaculture farms, and (iii) demolishing polluting farms.
• The Bill adds that the Authority shall - (i) fix standards for inputs and discharge of effluents from aquaculture units, (ii) prohibit the use of certain inputs to prevent harm to the environment, and (iii) monitor and regulate units, inputs, and emissions.

Penalties
• The Act penalises unregistered farms or farms in prohibited areas, with imprisonment up to three years and/or a fine of one lakh rupees.
• The Bill replaces this and specifies that if coastal aquaculture is carried out illegally: (i) the activity may be suspended, (ii) structure may be removed, (iii) crop may be destroyed, (iv) the registration may be cancelled, and/or (v) a penalty may be imposed.

What are Government of India’s initiatives for Fisheries sector?
• Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) - The scheme aims to bring about Blue Revolution through sustainable and responsible development of fisheries sector, enhance fish production and productivity, modernize and strengthen the value chain, improve socio-economic status of fishers and fish farmers.
• Blue Revolution Scheme - This was a centrally sponsored scheme launched in December 2015. The scheme aimed to catalyze the integrated, responsible and holistic development and management of the fisheries sector.
• Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
• Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and Kisan Credit Card (KCC)