Short Article

13-09-2023 | 10:05 AM

Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment ) Bill, 2023

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

Key Highlights:

• 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.
• 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.
• 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 activities like nucleus breeding centers will be permitted to operate in no development zones, and activities like seaweed culture will be permitted in creeks/backwaters within the CRZ.