This Act amends the Fisheries Act by adding new Parts to that Act relating to: (a) declaration of any area of water to be a fisheries management area for the management and sustainable utilization of specified species (IIA); aquaculture (IVA); and (c) the establishment of a Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Fund (IVB).
As for fisheries management areas, they may be declared by Order of the Minister, after consultation with the Minister responsible for environmental protection, national heritage conservation and management and wildlife management and with the Director of Fisheries and the local riparian community. A fisheries management plan shall be prepared and a committee appointed for each fisheries management area. The Act sets out the content of a plan and the functions of a committee.
Part IVA requires a licence for engaging in aquaculture which means all cultivation, propagation or farming of fish, aquatic vegetation, or other living aquatic resources. Such licence may contain conditions as to the site of the facilities, control of species, sanitary conditions, marketing of fish, disposal of dead fish, etc. A person intending to engage in aquaculture shall prepare an environmental impact assessment report and inspectors may inspect proposed sites so as to control their suitability for aquaculture. The Part further provides rules relative to conducting aquaculture operations, requires an Aquaculture Development Plan to be prepared and grants regulation-making powers to the Minister.