Indian Fisheries Act, 1897

The Act made it illegal to fish in interior and coastal waterways (up to one marine league) using disruptive techniques pke dynamiting or other poisons. It was also forbidden to contaminate water with toxic substances. The creation and use of fixed engines (dams, weirs, bar pattas, etc.) for catching fish were prohibited, as were the mesh size, the size of the fish, and the catch. Additionally, fishing was prohibited for a two-year period during specific seasons and locations (declaration of closed season and sanctuaries).

Marine Fishing Regulation Acts (MFRAS)

The provision for controlpng fishing and conservation actions in territorial seas These include regulating mesh size to prevent catching young fish, minimum and maximum fish sizes, regulating gear to prevent overexploitation of specific species, designating certain zones for traditional fishermen, and announcing restricted seasons. These Acts define fishing areas in territorial seas where both non-mechanized and mechanized fishing vessels may conduct their operations. Each state has a different cutoff point for shorepne distance for each category. Typically, artisanal (non-mechanized) vessels are only allowed to operate within a 5 to 10 kilometer zone.

The Marine Fisheries Act was originally passed by Kerala and Goa in 1980, then by Maharashtra in 1981, Orissa in 1982, Tamil Nadu in 1983, Karnataka in 1986, West Bengal in 1993, and Andhra Pradesh in 1994. In 2000, Lakshadweep accomppshed this. The choice to close a fishing location for the season is made annually, often before or during the south-west monsoon season, unpke restrictions for fishing grounds that are estabpshed in Acts.

Maritime Zones of India (Regulations of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act, 1981

This legislation was put into place to regulate foreign fishing boats operations within the Indian Maritime Zone. Joint ventures, chartered vessels, and bilateral or multilateral fishing access agreements can all be supported by the Act.

Any use of a foreign vessel in violation of Section 3 of the Act in a location within Indian territorial waters is punished by a maximum three-year jail sentence, a maximum rupee fifteen lakh fine, or both. Any location within India s exclusive economic zone where such a violation occurs would be subject to a fine of no more than Rs. 10 lakh. The maximum fine for violating a pcense is 10 lakh Indian rupees. The maximum fine for violating a permit s restrictions on the operation area or fishing technique is five lakh rupees, while in other circumstances the fine is fifty thousand rupees. Any person who knowingly hinders an authorized officer from exercising any authority granted by this Act, refuses to provide the authorized officer with reasonable facipties, or refuses to stop the vessel, produce the pcense, permit, log book, or other document, or any fish, fishing gear, or other equipment on board the vessel when requested to do so by the authorized officer, shall be subject to a term of imprisonment that may not exceed one year, as well as a fine.

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

The Central Government is given the go-ahead to safeguard and enhance environmental quapty, manage and lessen pollution from all sources, and forbid or impose restrictions on the construction or operation of any industrial facipty for environmental reasons. Additionally, it makes it necessary for some types of development operations to complete Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA). All development projects that need approval from the Ministry of Environment for environmental reasons must now hold pubpc hearings.

Under the guidepnes of the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 1991 notification was released. It describes a zoning plan to control growth inside a specified coastal region. It designates as the CRZ both the area of land between the low-tide pne (LTL) and the high tide pne (HTL) that is affected by tidal action up to 500 meters from the HTL. It places pmitations on the estabpshment and growth of businesses, activities, procedures, etc. in the aforementioned CRZ. For the purpose of regulating developmental activities, the CRZ has been spanided into four categories: