(1) Third Party Technical Agencies shall be empanelled for providing assistance in implementation of this Act by the Department of Fisheries / APSADA.
(2) Services like sample collection, sample analysis, inspections, reporting accreditation & certification process, evaluation and any other services as required shall be rendered by the empanelled Third Party Technical Agencies.
(3) The procedure of empanelment of Third Party Technical Agencies shall be as may be prescribed.
1. Section 18 along with marginal heading substituted by the Act No.36 of 2020, s.20.
2. Section 19 along with marginal heading substituted by the Act No.36 of 2020, s.21.
(4) Role, responsibility, duties and other aspects of such empanelled Third Party Technical Agencies shall be as may be prescribed.]
CHAPTER - VI
20. Aquaculture Seed Analysts - The Government may, by notification appoint such persons as it thinks fit, having the prescribed qualifications, to be Aqua Culture Seed Analysts and define the areas within which they shall exercise jurisdiction.
1 [21. Aquaculture Seed Inspector – Fisheries Development Officer or any other Gazetted Officer of Fisheries Department who is designated by the Controlling Authority shall be the Aquaculture Seed Inspector.]
CHAPTER - VII 2[22. Offenses & Penalties - (1) Offenses under this Act are-
(i) operating Hatchery / Larval Rearing Center / Brooder Multiplications Centers, Fish Seed Farms or any other unit connected with aquaculture seed production without license;
(ii) the License/ endorsement was obtained by concealment or misrepresentation as to an essential fact/s;
(iii) preventing the Aquaculture Seed Inspector from exercising his/her powers delegated under this Act and Rules made there under;
(iv) not providing Aquaculture Seed / brooder samples of required quantity or records when Aquaculture Seed Inspector asks for;
(v) physical attack on Aquaculture Seed Inspector or any other staff while performing his/her duty under this Act or Rules ;
(vi) sell or intend to sell of uncertified Aquaculture Seed of prescribed species;
(vii) sell or intend to sell Aquaculture Seed with residues of antibiotic /pharmacologically active compounds;
(viii) sell or intend to sell of sub-standard Aquaculture Seed;
(ix) any other violation under the Act or Rules made thereunder;
(x) any other offence may be notified by the Government from time to time.
(2) Penalties : Penalties for various offenses committed under this Act shall be punishable by penalties and/or liable for prosecution as prescribed by Rules.]