The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying vide its notification dated 15th March 2022 has published the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Rules, 2022 to further amend the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Rules, 2005.
Coastal aquaculture means culturing, under controlled conditions in ponds, pens, enclosures or otherwise, in coastal areas, of shrimp, prawn, fish or any other aquatic life in saline or brackish water; but does not include fresh water aquaculture.
As per the amendment, every application for the registration of a coastal aquaculture farm shall be made to the SubDivisional Level Committee where the coastal aquaculture farm is located or directly to the District Level Committees in absence of a sub-division in a particular District as set up by the Authority in Form I, obtainable from the office of the Member Convener of Sub-Divisional Level Committee or District Level Committee, or from the office of the Authority or downloaded from the website of the Authority.
“Provided that the Authority in the public interest may make provision for electronic or on-line filing of an application in prescribed Form I.
On receipt of an application, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee or the District Level Committee in the absence of a sub-division in a particular District shall scrutinize the application including supporting documents furnished therewith in respect of the coastal aquaculture farm irrespective of their size; and
in the case of coastal aquaculture farms above 2.0 ha of water spread area and upto 5.0 ha of water spread area, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee shall recommend the application directly to the Authority for consideration of registration only after making such inquiry including inspection as it thinks fit to satisfy that the registration of such farm shall not be detrimental to the coastal environment”
Further the fees for renewal of registration of the farm shall be paid to the Coastal Aquaculture Authority in form of Demand draft or electronically through online mode.
