The Authority shall perform the following functions to -
(i) ensure that the agricultural lands, salt pan lands, mangroves, wet lands, forest lands, land for village common purposes and the land meant for public purposes and national parks and sanctuaries shall not be converted for construction of coastal aquaculture farms so as to protect the livelihood of coastal community;
(ii) deal with any issues pertaining to coastal aquaculture including those which may be referred to it by the Central Government;
(iii) survey the entire coastal area of the country and advise the Central Government and the State/ Union territory Governments to formulate suitable strategies for achieving ecofriendly coastal aquaculture development;
(iv) advise and extend support to the State/ Union territory Governments to construct common infrastructure viz., common water in-take and discharge canals by the coastal aquaculture farms and common effluent treatment systems for achieving eco-friendly and sustainable development of coastal aquaculture;
(v) fix standards for all coastal aquaculture inputs viz., seed, feed, growth supplements and chemicals/ medicines for the maintenance of the water bodies and the organisms reared therein and other aquatic life;
(vi) carryout and sponsor investigations and studies/ schemes relating to environment protection and demonstration of eco-friendly technologies in coastal aquaculture;
(vii) collect and dissemination of data and other scientific and socio-economic information in respect of matters related to coastal aquaculture;
(viii) prepare manuals, codes and audio visual material relating to sustainable development of coastal aquaculture and activities relating there to;
(ix) organise through media and other means of communication a comprehensive programme regarding sustainable utilization and fair and equitable sharing of the coastal resources for aquaculture purpose;
(x) plan and organise training of personnel engaged or likely to be engaged in programmes for sustainable utilization of the coastal resources for aquaculture purposes;
(xi) constitute various technical committees, sub-committees, working groups, sub-groups comprising the Members and Officers of the Authority, Scientists and Officers of the National Research Institutes/ State Governments/ Representatives of the Civil Society for preparation of technical manuals, code of conduct, etc.
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(xii) direct the owners of the farm to carry out such modifications to minimize the impacts on coastal environment including stocking density, residual levels/ use of antibiotics, chemicals and other pharmacologically active compounds.
(xiii) order seasonal closure of farms for ensuring sustainability of the coastal aquaculture practices;
(xiv) order closure of coastal aquaculture farm in the interest of maintaining environmental sustainability and protection of livelihoods or for any other reasons considered necessary in the interest of coastal environment.
(xv) cancel the certificate of registration where it is satisfied that any person has obtained a certificate of registration under sub-rule (1) of rule 11 by furnishing false information or that he/ she has contravened any of the provisions of these rules or of the conditions mentioned in the certificate of registration, without any prejudice to any other action, that may be taken against such person:
Provided that before cancelling such certificate, the person concerned shall be given an opportunity to make his/ her representation,
Provided further that a copy of the order together with the reasons for the cancellation shall be communicated to the person concerned;
(xvi) frame recruitment rules for the posts created for the Coastal Aquaculture Authority and till such time issue order that the recruitment to the posts be made on the basis of recruitment rules for analogous posts in the Central Government.
(xvii) determine the pay, leave, allowances and other terms and conditions of the service of the employees of the Authority:
Provided that the pay, leave, allowances, other conditions of service and other facilities and concessions such as advances of pay, advances of conveyance, construction of houses and the like in respect of all employees in Coastal Aquaculture Authority shall be regularised in accordance with such rules and orders as are for the time being applicable to officers and employees of the Central Government of the corresponding grades or status stationed at those places till separate regulations are made by the Coastal Aquaculture Authority.
(xviii) make suitable recommendations to the Government for amending the guidelines under rule 3 from time to time taking into account the changes in technology, farming practices, etc, and incorporating such modifications in the guidelines to ensure environmental protection and the livelihoods of the coastal communities.
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CHAPTER IV Powers and functions of the one man Authority