COASTAL AQUACULTURE AUTHORITY OR CAA BILL, 2023

 

Latest Context

The Lok Sabha passed an amendment bill to decriminalise the offences committed in carrying out coastal aquaculture activities and ensure ease of doing business.

Key Points

• The bill amends the CAA Act of 2005, which created the CAA to regulate coastal aquaculture-related operations.
• Coastal Aquaculture was exempted from the ban under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) Notification of 1991 by the CAA Act of 2005.
• The National Green Tribunal ruled in 2022 that coastal aquaculture is not exempt from the CRZ Notifications issued in 2011 and 2019 under the CAA Act of 2005.
• Coastal aquaculture is farming shrimp, prawns, fish or other aquatic life in saline or brackish water.

• Key highlights:

• Under the CRZ, coastal aquaculture and associated activities are allowed. As a result, it will still solely be subject to CAA Act regulation.
• Allows seaweed cultivation in creeks and backwaters inside the CRZ and nucleus breeding in no-development zones.

• Additional functions of CAA:

• Set parameters for aquaculture unit inputs and effluent outflow.
• Pharmacologically active chemicals, antibacterial agents, and other drugs that might be harmful to human health should all be banned.
• Secretary-Member of the Authority: been chosen by the central government to serve as the CAA's chief executive officer.
• Decrminalises violations of the law and lowers the fine to one lakh.

Potential in India

• After China, India is the world's second-largest aquaculture nation and the third-largest producer of fish overall.
• The importance of the fishing and aquaculture industries was made clear by India's Blue Revolution.
• The industry is regarded as a sunrise sector and is anticipated to have a big impact on the Indian economy soon.
• Indian fisheries have recently seen a paradigm change from inland to marine-dominated fisheries, with the latter becoming a significant contribution to fish output from 36% in the middle of the 1980s to 70% in the recent past.

Initiatives

• The Government of India approved the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) flagship programme in May 2020 as part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat COVID-19 relief package to bring about the Blue Revolution through the sustainable and responsible development of the fisheries sector.
• The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY) sub-scheme, which was unveiled in the Union Budget for 2023–2024, aims to increase the wages and incomes of fishers, fish dealers, and micro- and small-scale businesses operating in the fisheries industry.

Challenges

• In terms of good infrastructure, technological adoption, and financial inclusion, India is still lagging behind its international competitors.
• Farmers and other interested parties have occasionally expressed concern over subpar exports and a decline in market pricing.

Way Forward

• To solve the problems facing the industry, scientists and aquaculture farmers have proposed a comprehensive strategy including several stakeholders and government agencies.
• For the management of fisheries throughout the nation, scientists emphasise the necessity for comprehensive law and an inter-state structure.
• The answer is a co-management approach that includes fishermen's active engagement.

 

 

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