The Aquatic Business Activities Bill

1. The Aquatic Business Activities Bill

2. 1. World Review Fish as food for the world • 142 million tonnes in 2005 • 94 million tonnes – capture fisheries • 48 million tonnes – aquaculture • Source: FAO

3. Marine fisheries-overall status • Maximum capture potential has been reached • More effective • management • needed Source: FAO

4. O U T L O O K • Projections & developments: 2010 and beyond • Total world production on target • Marine capture fisheries steady (oscillates 80 – 90 million tonnes) • Inland fisheries landings increasing • Aquaculture production growing (53 million tonnes in 2010; 74 million tonnes in 2015) Source: FAO

5. Development of Aquaculture • Worldwide practice • Floating cage culture of fish carried out in: • Marine capture fisheries is stagnating • Annual increase in aquaculture production is 8% • -Hong Kong • -Philippines • -Norway • -Cyprus • -New Zealand • -Chile • -Other countries • -Some Mediterranean countries • -Japan • -France • -UK (Scotland) • -Ireland • -Canada • -USA • -Australia

6. 2. Aquaculture Master Plan • The study was commissioned by the Ministry of Finance and ED. Consultant met all stakeholders. • Was discussed in depth at a workshop held on 12 -13 April 2007 3. Recommendations of the Master Plan • The lagoon area of Mahébourg to be considered in the first instance; • The projects of “Ferme Marine de Mahébourg Ltd” to be replicated by other promoters in other identified areas; • Requests for projects in other sites identified off-lagoon to be entertained; • Drafting of an appropriate legislation for the grant of sea concession for aquaculture.

7. Potential sites for aquaculture • 7 sites in lagoon • 8 on the coast • 6 off-lagoon

8. Opportunities for aquaculture development in Mauritius 21 potential sites identified Annual production estimates • 29,000 t in the medium term • 39, 000 t in the long term Types of Culture/Systems • Lagoon cage culture: 300/500 tonnes per production unit • Offshore lagoon cage culture: 2000 tonnes per production unit • Recirculation production facility • Tuna ranching /fattening in cages

9. Investment Projection for Mauritius • Investment – Rs. 5 billion • Direct employment – 5,000 • Production (medium – to long term) – 29,000 to 39,000 t • No marketing problem foreseeable

10. 4. What is The Aquatic Business Activities Bill? • A legal framework to regulate the activities in or around the sea, particularly: • aquaculture, • setting up of marinas, • and pumping sea water for use on land (land based oceanic industry) 5. Provisions • Licences • Holder of a licence for an aquatic business activity • Issued by Minister subject to the payment of prescribed fee and conditions • May be revoked or suspended

11. Provisions (Cont.) (b) Leases • Minister may grant lease over a portion of the coastal waters and adjacent land • Publication in the Gazette and 2 daily newspapers • Lease not more than 30 years for well-demarcated areas of the sea and payment of a rent

12. Provisions (Cont.) • Advisory Committee • To advise Minister on matters relating to aquatic business activities • The representatives will comprise of: • Ministry of Finance and Economic Development • Ministry of Tourism, Leisure & External Communications • Ministry of Health & Quality of Life • Ministry of Environment & National Development Unit

13. Comments were invited from: Board of Investment Prime Minister’s Office Ministry of Tourism, Leisure & External Communications Ministry of Housing & Lands Ministry of Local Government Ministry of Environment & National Development Unit Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport & Shipping Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Ministry of Health & Quality of Life Ministry of Public Utilities Mauritius Ports Authority Division of Veterinary Services One-Stop-Shop (Seafood Hub) Mauritius Export Association (MEXA)

14. Comments were invited from (cont.) Fishermen’s Associations Mauritius Oceanography Institute Mauritius Research Council Ferme Marine de Mahebourg Ltee Livestock Feed Factory Val Farms Ltd. Ocean Fresh ESPA Co. Ltd SODIA Medine Sugar Estate Food & Allied Industries Compagnie de Beau Vallon Ltd (Riche en Eau Sugar Estate) Mauritius Marine Conservation Society The general public via Internet (http://fisheries.gov.mu) +Other stakeholders

15. Comments received (to date) Syndicat des Pecheurs Livestock Feed Ltd Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Land Transport & Shipping Ministry of Local Government Mauritius Ports Authority Board of Investment Police Department Mauritius Research Council Mauritius Oceanography Institute Val Farms Ltd Association des Hoteliers et Restaurateurs – Ile Maurice (AHRIM) Ministry of Public Utilities Mauritius Export Association Ministry of Health and Quality of Life The Financial Secretary Ministry of Environment & National Development Unit Food & Allied Industries Ltd. (FAIL) Ministry of Tourism, Leisure & External Communication Ministry of Housing & Lands Mauritius Scuba Diving Association Association of Campement Owners and Users (ACOU) Mauritius Marine Conservation Society

16. 6. Queries by the fishers’ community and our comments a) Not in the interest of fishermen as there will be conflicting use of resources • Provisions made for public comments on applications • Fishermen given opportunity to express their opinions b) The “domaine public” is not leasable according to the Code Civil • Right of Government to propose projects in part of any land or sea for the benefit for the country. • The Bill has been drafted by Attorney General’s Office • Comments and suggestions being sought from different stakeholders • The bill provides an orderly and sustainable development of aquatic activities

17. c) The whole lagoon or any part thereof might be leased • Not all parts of the lagoon are suitable for aquatic activities • Only twenty one potential sites have been identified • For the development of 10 farms the occupancy will be less than 0.7 % of the whole lagoon area; sea cucumber ranching will only occupy the bottom of the sea. • Not all projects will be carried out in the lagoon

18. d) Lack of study with regard to impact on fish resources • Studies carried out under the Aquaculture Master Plan prior to the recommendations • Lagoon resources overexploited; aquaculture will increase productivity, stabilise employment opportunities of fishermen and coastal communities e) Exclusive rights to the Minister to lease parts of the sea • Consultation with all parties concerned including public will be carried out • Project proposals will be published in the Government Gazette and two daily newspapers • Advisory Committee could be strengthened to make final technical recommendation

19. f) Aquaculture project is not affordable to fishers • Can take advantage of Empowerment Fund for the development of projects • Fishermen Investment Trust can invest in projects or promote joint ventures between fishermen and other operators g) Acquired rights of fishermen are being reduced • Fishermen will still be able to fish in the lagoon and off-lagoon as only very small parts of these areas will be used • Registered artisanal fishermen are being trained to fish off-lagoon and around FAD’s set up by the Ministry • No new fisherman is being registered as lagoon fisherman.

20. h) Opportunities for Professional fishermen • Fishermen have greater chances to be employed being given their experience at sea i) Aquaculture is a polluting activity • Detailed environmental impact assessments will be carried out for all projects • Activities will be carried out under strict environmental guidelines to avoid pollution • The environmental and ecological parameters of aquaculture activities are being monitored by the AFRC • Coastal Water Quality Guidelines have to strictly observed

21. 7. Case 1: Cyprus Island (Mediterranean) (Tourism as main economic activity) Only 296 km of coastline under the jurisdiction of Cyprus Govt. Presently: • Three commercial hatcheries • Eight private commercial marine fish cage farms • Average annual production of 150 t each • Intensive farming in offshore marine cages located at 1-2 km from the shore • 18-35 metres water depths • Marine aquaculture production was valued at about USD 7.6 million • Represented about 25 % total fish production and more than 60% of the high quality fresh fish in the local market.

22. 8. Case 2: Norway • The Governing Regulations: The Aquaculture Act 1985, as amended in 2003, is the main piece of legislation regulating the management, control and development of fish farming in fresh water, brackish water and marine water. • The act establishes a licensing system governing the setting up and operation of fish farms. • Aquaculture is now a major industry along the western and northern coasts of Norway. • More than 9 000 man-years are worked directly in the sector and about the same number is estimated in supporting activities. • Production of aquaculture in 2005 was above 600 000 tonnes

23. 9. Case 3: New Zealand • Marine farming sector: USD 250 million/year • 1,200 marine farms • Legal framework governed by Marine Farming Act 1971 • Aquaculture Reform Act 2004 – provides for lease or licences known as “coastal permits”

24. 10. Case 4: Malta ( tourism as main economic activity) • Aquaculture primarily marine-based • Culture species include seabreams, seabasse, fattening of Atlantic bluefin tuna) • Culture in floating cages • Production: 4000 tonnes (in 2005)