New amendments to the Aquaculture Act were introduced in the House of Assembly with the goal of modernising regulations. The proposed changes will strengthen regulatory and enforcement opportunities, according to a provincial government news release.
The amendments include new rules for abandoned site reclamation; enhanced industry compliance and enforcement regulations; more comprehensive definitions; new ability for ministerial refusal of aquaculture licenses if in the public interest; and introduction of mandatory licensee compliance to aquatic animal health policies.
The amendments will enable the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture to require financial or other security to cover the operation and require the licensee to restore the aquaculture site to satisfaction. As well, the act will now give the minister the authority to give aquaculture inspectors the powers of peace officers when deemed necessary.
The revised amendment will also enable ticketing and administrative penalties and provide associated regulation-making powers.
Now, for the first time, researchers report using this technology to record spawning cod in the wild.
Acoustic behavior in cod has been of interest for several decades, but few studies have observed their use of sound as part of reproductive behavior. Although both sexes produce low frequency "grunts", only male Atlantic cod make this sound during spawning season.
The findings have implications for conservation and management of this iconic species and possibly for other recreational and commercial fish species. Species in more than 100 families of fish are known to produce sounds.
According to the latest government guidelines, no person shall carry on freshwater aquaculture without registration. Farmers operating, or planning to set up, freshwater aquaculture ponds or hatcheries must now by law register their ponds.
The District Level Committee (DLC) will be the competent authority to permit fresh water aquaculture by registration. District collectors will be the chairpersons of the respective district committees and officers from irrigation, environment, ground water, agriculture, fisheries and other related departments will be the members of the district committee to monitor aquaculture ponds.
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