The Parliament has passed the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill 2023 with Rajya Sabha giving assent to it today. The Lok Sabha had passed it on Monday.
 
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 decriminalizes certain offences under it to promote the ease of doing business. The Minister said, that 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 and over 20 thousand crore rupees have been allocated for Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana only. Mr Rupala said, Fishermen have been provided with Kisan Credit Cards. He said, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India will have a blue revolution which will take the fisherman community ahead. Mr Rupala said, different technologies are being used in the Fisheries sector. He said, the sector is also registering a high growth rate. The Minister said, the Bill was brought in April this year and it was later sent to the Standing Committee. He said consultation was held with coastal states and other stakeholders and several suggestions were received from the Standing Committee. The Minister said, maximum suggestions have been incorporated in the Bill.
 
Sasmit Patra of BJD, Mastan Rao Beeda and V Vijaysai Reddy of YSRCP, K Ravindra Kumar of TDP, M Thambidurai of AIADMK, G K Vasan of TMC (M) participated in the discussion.
 
After the passing of the Bill, Rajya Sabha was adjourned till tomorrow.