Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023
Context:
The Lok Sabha recently passed the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023, with the aim of decriminalizing offences related to coastal aquaculture activities. This step is taken to promote ease of business in this sector.
Aquaculture Definition:
- Aquaculture involves the cultivation of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants under controlled conditions.
- It provides a controlled environment for breeding, rearing, and harvesting aquatic organisms for food production, research, and conservation purposes.
Fisheries vs. Aquaculture:
- Fisheries refer to activities related to catching, harvesting, and managing wild aquatic organisms from natural water bodies.
- Unlike aquaculture, fisheries rely on capturing organisms from their natural habitats rather than controlled environments.
Need for the Bill:
- The bill amends the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) Act of 2005.
- A recent ruling by the National Green Tribunal in 2022 clarified that the CAA Act no longer exempted coastal aquaculture from the updated Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications.
- This highlighted the necessity of aligning the CAA Act with the updated CRZ regulations.
Aim of the Bill:
- The bill seeks to broaden the scope of coastal aquaculture while reducing compliance burdens and maintaining environmental protection regulations.
Key Provisions:
- Decriminalization of Offences:
- Certain offences will no longer carry the possibility of jail time but will instead result in fines.
- Fines of up to ₹1 lakh for specific offences.
- Expansion of Scope:
- Enlarges the Coastal Aquaculture Authority’s activities.
- Addresses regulatory gaps and enhances responsiveness to stakeholders’ needs.
- Promotion of Environment-friendly Aquaculture:
- Encourages eco-friendly aquaculture practices such as cage culture and seaweed culture.
- Quality Assurance and Safe Products:
- Promotes the production of safe and high-quality aquaculture products by preventing the use of harmful substances.
- Disease-free Broodstocks and Seeds:
- Supports the creation of disease-free and improved aquatic life for coastal aquaculture.
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
Government Initiatives Related to Fisheries:
- Matsya Setu
- Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF)
- Blue Revolution
- Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)
- Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
- Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana
India’s Fisheries Contribution:
- India stands as the second-largest fish-producing country globally, accounting for over 7.5% of the global production.
- It also holds the fourth-largest position in terms of fish exports.
About CRZ:
- Coastal Regulation Zones are demarcated areas along India’s coastline where certain activities are regulated.
- These zones are governed by the CRZ notification issued by the central government under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the nodal ministry responsible for CRZ regulations.
