The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) under the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, has launched a pioneering National Campaign. The primary objective of this campaign is to achieve 100% farm registration throughout the country. The inaugural event of this campaign took place today in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu.
Amendments Empowering Farm Registration
The foundation of this initiative rests on recent amendments made to the Principal Act on Coastal Aquaculture. These amendments facilitate the registration of farms on owned land and provide provisions for condoning delayed renewals. For farmers who failed to renew their registrations due to various reasons, the government has introduced a mechanism allowing the condoning of delays by paying twice the applicable registration fee. It is estimated that over 35,000 farms nationwide stand to benefit from this provision, thus regularizing their farm registrations.
Localized Awareness Campaigns
To ensure maximum outreach and engagement, brochures have been circulated in local languages to facilitate widespread awareness among farmers. These brochures serve as crucial tools for disseminating information during the campaign.
Legal Imperatives & Environmental Protection
Non-registration of coastal aquaculture units is deemed a violation under Section 13 of the CAA Act, 2005. The mandate of the CAA extends to both protecting the coastal environment and fostering sustainable aquaculture practices. In line with this mission, the authority is actively collaborating with state fisheries departments and the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) to organize campaigns in all states.
Aiming for 100% Registration
The mass motivation program, envisioned as a 'Help-line' for farmers, aims to achieve 100% registration and renewal of coastal aquaculture units. This concerted effort not only serves to legalize farms but also fulfils the imperative of traceability in farmed produce across the country.
The inaugural event held in Nagapattinam, Tamil Nadu, witnessed the active participation of farmers from various districts. During the event, farmers submitted applications for both registration and renewals, underscoring their commitment to compliance. Officials from the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare facilitated the process by collecting and forwarding these applications to CAA officials.
Key attendees included Chidambaram, President of the Nagapattinam Aquaculture Farmers Association (NAFA), Shivasankar, Secretary of NAFA, Dr. V. Krip, Secretary of CAA, Elamvaluthi, Joint Director (Nagapattinam) from the Department of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, and Naresh Vishnu Tambhadu, Deputy Director of MPEDA, along with officials from CAA and representatives from Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Nagapattinam.
Marking a significant move towards sustainable #MarineFisheries!
— Department of Fisheries, Min of FAH&D (@FisheriesGoI) February 14, 2024
CAA launches the National Campaign on Coastal Aquaculture Farms Registration from #Nagapattinam, #TamilNadu#Aquaculture #CoastalDevelopment pic.twitter.com/CJksGWeTYv
