The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023. Replying to a debate on the Bill, Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Parshottam Rupala said, the Bill amends the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act, 2005. He said, it also decriminalises certain offences under it to promote the ease of doing business. The Minister said, while the Fisheries department got a total allocation of three thousand 680 crore rupees from 1947 to 2014. He said, a separate Fisheries Ministry was created over 20 thousand crore rupees have been allocated for Padhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana only. Mr Rupala said, shrimp production of the country increased from 3.22 lakh tons at the end of 2013-14 to a record 11.84 lakh tons at the end of 2022-23. He said, similarly, the shrimp exports have more than doubled. The Minister said, it was 19 thousand 368 crore rupees at the end of 2013-14 and at the end of 2022-23 it was 43 thousand 135 crore rupees. Mr Rupala said the Bill was brought in April this year and it was later sent to the Standing Committee. He said, after consultation with all coastal states and other stakeholders 56 suggestions were received from the Standing Committee. The Minister said, maximum suggestions have been incorporated in the Bill.
Pratap Chandra Sarangi, P P Chaudhary, Rajesh Chudasama and Manoj Tiwari of BJP, Malook Nagar of BSP, Lavu Shri Krishna Devarayalu of YSRCP participated in the discussion.
