Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment ) Bill, 2023 clear by both Houses of Parliament of India

Source: The post is based on the article “Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment ) Bill, 2023 cleared by both Houses of Parliament of India”  published in PIB on 9th August 2023.

What is the News?

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

What is the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment ) Bill,2023?

The Bill amends the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005.

The bill seeks to expand the scope, remove regulatory gaps and reduce the compliance burden without diluting environmental protection rules in the coastal areas.

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. 

– Note: 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 centers will be permitted to operate in no development zones, and (ii) activities like seaweed 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 penalizes 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 canceled, and/or (v) a penalty may be imposed.