The Anti-Maritime Piracy Bill was taken up in the Lok Sabha by the Government in the winter session of parliament. The Bill is aimed at promoting the safety and security of India’s maritime trade, and the safety of its crew members. It seeks to provide stringent punishment, including the death penalty or life imprisonment, to those involved in piracy at sea.  In recent times, the menace of piracy is growing. The Gulf of Aden, which separates Somalia and Yemen, has seen a major spurt in attacks by pirates operating from Somalia since 2008. This route is used by 2000 ships each month for trade between Asia and Europe and the East coast of Africa.