More than 350 shrimp hatcheries escape axe as CRZ rule amended

KAKINADA: More than 350 shrimp hatcheries along the coastal AP region have escaped the axe as the Union Government has amended the Coastal Aqua Authority (CAA) Act and exempted the hatcheries from the distance-rule.

According to CRZ rules, no unit should be established within 500 metres of the CRZ zone. Now, an exemption has been given for hatcheries and aqua-related units.

The Coastal Aqua Authority (CCA) was established in 2005. Recently, the National Green Tribunal gave a judgment that all establishments that are within 200 metres of the CRZ limit should be demolished to protect the environment as per the CAA rules. The owners of the hatcheries faced the threat of demolition and submitted a representation to the central government to give the hatcheries an exemption. In response, the Parliament amended the law and gave the exemptions.

The all India shrimp hatcheries association’s Kakinada chapter general secretary Sunkaranam Harinarayana said the Union Government has relaxed the 250-metres zone restriction and allowed the aquaculture and seed production of prawns, crab etc within the CRZ limits.

He said that the aqua production by the country has reached 10 lakh metric tonnes, helping it earn foreign currency via its large-scale exports. There are 550 hatcheries in the country, of which 450 are in Andhra Pradesh.

Previously, the Brood stock used to come from the Pacific Ocean, but the breed is now being produced locally under the ‘Make In India initiative.

President of the association Sathi Veerreddy said that the hatcheries industry breathed easy with the present change in rule. Lakhs of people get employment directly and indirectly in this sector, he noted.