Coastal Aquaculture Authority

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The Authority is mandated to regulate activities relating to Coastal Aquaculture in order to ensure long-term development without causing harm to the coastal ecosystem and ecology.

The Authority is empowered to register coastal aquaculture farms, make regulations for the construction and operation of aquaculture farms in coastal areas, as well as to monitor such farms to determine their adherence to environmental impact guidelines, compliance of registration as per Rules, take action for discontinuation of coastal aquaculture farms that are not in accordance with guidelines laid down by the CAA.

Application for registration of farm in prescribed form with requisite documents and fee for registration is to be submitted to the District Level committee in the District Fisheries Office of the concerned State Government. Link to Application for Registration of Coastal Aquaculture Farm (http://caa.gov.in/uploaded/doc/form-Inew.pdf)

  • Land documents of the site. (If in local language, needs to be translated in English version and certified by a Notary Public)
  • Approval for construction from competent local body.
  • Field Map (FM) Sketch of the site.
  • Layout of the farm/Production systems along with Effluent Treatment System (ETS), if applicable.
  • Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), Environment Monitoring and Management Planning (EMMP), if applicable.

Renewal of registration of a coastal aquaculture farm has to be made before two months of the expiry of extant registration with the Authority. Application for renewal of registration shall be submitted to the District level committee. Please find the link to Application for Renewal of Registration by Coastal Aquaculture for undertaking Coastal aquaculture - FORM III at ( http://www.caa.gov.in/uploaded/doc/form-III.pdf).

Coastal Areas under purview of CAA.
A coastal area means, an area declared as the Coastal Regulation Zone, in the notification of the Government of India, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, No. S. O. 114(E), dated the 19th February, 1991 and includes such other area as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, specify from time to time. Area of land within a distance of two kilometres from the High Tide Line (HTL) of seas, rivers, creeks and backwaters is covered under the purview of CAA.
1. The delineating boundaries along rivers, creeks and backwaters up to which distance the tidal effects are experienced and where salinity concentration is not less than 5 parts per thousand (ppt). The salinity measurements as made out during the driest period of the year.
2. In the case of ecologically fragile areas (such as Chilka Lake and Pulicat Lake) the coastal area shall extend up to a distance of two kms. from the boundary of the lakes.
Ps: no coastal aquaculture can be carried on within two hundred metres from HTL.

CAA does not provide any loans/subsidies to carry out farming. However, you may refer to the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) from Government of India (https://pmmsy.dof.gov.in/) The state government have their own schemes and these details can be obtained from the nearby Fisheries office of the State Government. For export facilitation, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) of Government of India provides incentives, which may be accessed from MPEDA portal.

(1) (2)
1. Up to 5.0 hectare (ha) water spread area Rs. 200/- per ha (or fraction of a ha), subject to a minimum of Rs. 500/-.
2. From 5.1 to 10 ha water spread area Rs. 1000/- plus Rs. 500/- per ha (or fraction of a ha) in excess of 5 ha.
3. From 10.1 ha water spread area and above Rs. 3500/- plus Rs. 1000/- per ha (or fraction and above of a ha) in excess of 10 ha.

Yes. Those who are already registered, shall submit fresh application for permission for farming L. vannamei. (those not registered shall also seek permission similarly). The team authorized by CAA shall conduct an inspection of the farm to study the suitability of the facility for L.vannamei farming and based on the findings CAA shall take a final decision (vide G.S.R. 280(E) dated 23.03.2012).

No. Farms approved for L. vannamei culture are not permitted for simultaneous farming of any other crustacean species in the same farm.

Stocking densities should not exceed 60 no./ square metre.

Yes.Tested and certified seed can be procured only from hatcheries authorised for import of the L. vannamei broodstock and/or production of L.vannamei seed (including Nauplii rearing hatcheries).

Yes.(a) Detailed records of the name and address of the hatchery from where seed is procured, the quantity produced and validity of the registration of the hatchery are to be maintained. (b) the quantity of the shrimp produced, sold and complete details of the processor to whom sale is made are to reported to the CAA on quarterly basis as per format prescribe (Form V)

In case of outbreak of disease, distress harvesting is permitted through netting only and such water discharge should be chlorinated and then de-chlorinated before release into drainage system. The waste water should be retained in the Effluent Treatment System (ETS) for a minimum period of two days.

The prescribed fees is Rs 500/ hectare WSA, for CAA registered farmers who have permission for any other species. In the case of new farm registration (first time), they should follow the same fee structure as for other indigenous species.

No. For all farms less than 10 ha, EIA is not mandatory. For farms above 10 ha and upto 40 ha, statement on EIA has to be given along with the registration form. For all farms above 40 ha, EIA should be made at the planning stage itself (ie, the feasibility has to be studied before making an application to CAA)

No. EMMP is essential for all farms with 40 ha or more water area. However farms with water area above 10 ha and less than 40 ha should also provide information on EMMP.

EMMP referred to in Q. 17 above, shall cover the following:
- Impact on the watercourses in the vicinity
- Impact on ground water quality
- Impact on drinking water sources
- Impact on agricultural activity
- Impact on soild and soil salinisation
- Wastewater treatment
- Green belt development ( as per specifications of the local authorities) {All farms of 10 ha or more, but less that 40 ha shall furnish detailed information on the aforesaid aspects}

No.

Yes.


FAQs on inputs used in aquaculture

CAA is mandated to fix standards for all Coastal aquaculture inputs, viz. seed, feed, growth supplements, chemicals/medicines used in the maintenance of the water bodies and the organisms reared /other aquatic life.

Twenty antibiotics/pharmacologically active substance are presently banned for use in shrimp culture. (http://caa.gov.in/uploaded/doc/Pharmacologically.pdf)
List of Antibiotics and other pharmacologically active substances banned for using in shrimp aquaculture
Sl.No.Antibiotics and other Pharmacologically Active Substances
1. Chloramphenicol
2. Nitrofurans including: Furaltadone, Furazolidone, Furylfuramide, Nifuratel, Nifuroxime, Nifurprazine, Nitrofurantoin, Nitrofurazone
3. Neomycin
4.Nalidixic acid
5. Sulphamethoxazole
6. Aristolochia spp and preparations thereof
7. Chloroform
8. Chlorpromazine
9. Colchicine
10. Dapsone
11. Dimetridazole
12. Metronidazole
13. Ronidazole
14. Ipronidazole
15. Other nitroimidazoles
16. Clenbuterol
17. Diethylstilbestrol (DES)
18. Sulfonamide drugs (except approved Sulfadimethoxine, Sulfabromomethazine and Sulfaethoxypyridazine)
19. Fluroquinolones
20. Glycopeptides

Yes, CAA joins the National Residue Control Program (NRCP) team and samples are taken from hatcheries and farm for checking antibiotic content in the animals.

Since 2016 CAA has been issuing ‘Certificate of Compliance to Antibiotic free Aquaculture inputs’; guidelines are given in the website (www.caa.gov.in). A fee of Rs.10,000/- is to be deposited with each application submitted to CAA.
The validity of the certificate issued is for five years, unless otherwise the hatchery/farm is found to be defaulting on periodic testing on inspections by NRCP/CAA or any other Government authorised agency.
All labelling standards laid down in the guidelines have to complied by the manufacturer/importer.

Application in prescribed format (available at www.caa.gov.in) , antibiotic test report as prescribed, retention sample of requisite size, declaration for authorising inspection/collect samples, along with other documents as may be sought for separately, with the application fees of Rs. 10,000/-

Yes, these are available in the guidelines