Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023

Published
6th Apr, 2023

Context

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 was introduced in the Lok Sabha, which seeks to amend the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act 2005.

Highlights of the Bill:

Introduced by: Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshotaam Rupala.
The Bill seeks to decriminalise the offences under the Act for promoting ease of doing business and to fine-tune the operational procedures of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority.
It also aimed at promoting newer forms of environment-friendly coastal aquaculture including cage culture, seaweed culture, marine ornamental fish culture and pearl oyster culture which has the potential for creating additional employment opportunities.
The Bill also has a provision to prevent the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances which are harmful to human health in coastal aquaculture.

Significance of the Bill:

The Bill has the potential for creating additional employment opportunities.
It also has a provision to prevent the use of antibiotics and pharmacologically active substances which are harmful to human health in coastal aquaculture.

Coastal Aquaculture Authority:

The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) was established under the provisions of the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005 for regulating the activities connected with coastal aquaculture in coastal areas.
It takes measures for the regulation of coastal aquaculture by prescribing guidelines to ensure that coastal aquaculture does not cause any detriment to the coastal environment and the concept of responsible coastal aquaculture contained in the guidelines shall be followed in regulating coastal aquaculture activities to protect the livelihood of various sections of people living in the coastal areas.

Other Government Interventions:

Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY):
- The Government has launched the PMMSY for the development of marine & inland fisheries.
- 11,000 crore for activities in Marine, Inland fisheries, & Aquaculture & Rs. 9000 crore for Infrastructure – Fishing Harbours, Cold chain, Markets etc shall be provided.
- There are provisions of Ban Period Support to fishermen (during the period fishing is not permitted).
- The focus will be on the Islands, Himalayan States, and northeast & Aspirational Districts.
National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB):
- NFDB works for the development of Fisheries in the country from Intensive Aquaculture in Ponds & tanks to Coastal Aquaculture.
- It also focuses on: –
  - Human Resources development programs in fisheries sectors,
  - Deep sea fishing & tuna processing,
  - Ornamental Fisheries,
  - Innovative Projects Quality seed dissemination program,
  - Cage & pen culture in open water bodies etc.