The Department of Fisheries on June 30, 2025, notified the Hatcheries and Farms for Seed Production and culture of marine finfishes Guidelines, 2025.
For Marine Finfish Hatcheries:
Application & Approval: Hatcheries must apply for CAA registration using Form II, submit a detailed project report, and pay a ₹10,000 fee. Approval follows a CAA inspection for biosecurity facilities, in-house quarantine, and production capacity.
Biosecurity & Sanitation: Strict biosecurity is mandated, including physical isolation of units, secure perimeter fencing (at least 6 feet high), restricted entry with compulsory showers and dedicated clothing for personnel, and disinfection protocols for vehicles, feet, hands, equipment (e.g., hypochlorite solution, formalin fumigation).
Water Management: Independent, isolated water treatment and recirculation systems are required for each functional unit. Water must be filtered and disinfected (chlorination/ozonation, UV light) before use. Discharged wastewater must be treated (e.g., >20 ppm active chlorine) and dechlorinated to prevent pathogen escape.
Infrastructure: Various hatchery sections (broodstock, larval rearing, live feed culture) must be physically isolated with single entry/exit points.
Quarantine: A fully bio-secured in-house quarantine facility is mandatory for broodstock (two weeks). Broodstock must be pathogen-free, tagged, and undergo PCR testing (e.g., for VNN) and parasite inspection. Quarantined discharge water must be treated separately.
Feed & Inputs: Live feeds must be pathogen-free. Only CAA-certified inputs can be used, and prohibited pharmacologically active substances/antimicrobial agents are forbidden.
Disease Reporting & Records: Any disease outbreak must be immediately reported to the CAA. Detailed daily records of operations, including broodstock, larval survival, test results, and sales data, must be maintained, with quarterly compliance reports submitted to the CAA.
Financial Compliance: Approved hatcheries must pay a ₹50,000 monitoring fee and deposit a bank guarantee of ₹2 Lakhs to ensure compliance, subject to invocation for violations.
For Marine Finfish Farms:
Application & Approval: Farmers must apply in Form I to the Sub-Divisional or District Level Committee with required documents and fees. Farm approval follows an inspection by a CAA-authorized team.
Biosecurity: Farms must establish measures like fencing, reservoir ponds for water treatment, bird-scare devices, and separate implements for each pond. Personnel must be trained in biosecurity management.
Site & Water Quality: Pond-based farming requires 1.5-2.0 meters water depth and a salinity range of 10-30 ppt.
Wastewater Discharge: Wastewater must be retained in an Effluent Treatment System for at least two days. In case of disease outbreak or drain harvest, water must be chlorinated and dechlorinated before release.
Species & Seed: Farms approved for finfish cannot simultaneously farm shellfish. Certified fry or fingerlings must be procured only from CAA-approved/registered hatcheries, with test reports from authorized government labs. Stocking densities are capped (e.g., 5000 nos. per hectare for pond systems, 20 kg/cubic meter for open water cage farms). Strict compliance with wastewater standards is mandatory and monitored by the CAA.
[Notification No. S.O. 2897(E)]
