The Andhra Pradesh State Aquaculture Development Authority (APSADA) Bill 2020 passed today (17th June 2020) by the State Legislative Assembly will herald a major change in aquaculture farming in Andhra Pradesh. The State government is all set to regulate and monitor all aquaculture activities and services in the state.
However, the bill has excluded the environmental and other related aspects of aquaculture which are taken under the control of Coastal Aquaculture Authority.
Andhra Pradesh is the first state in the country to create such an Authority to regulate supply of quality aquaculture inputs like seed, feed supplements, aqua chemicals, aqua products, medicines..etc.
Mopidevi Venkata Ramana Rao, Minister for Animal Husbandry Dairy Development and Fisheries had introduced the bill in the second day of the two days session.
The Authority shall consist of the Chief Minister of AP as Chairman, the Fisheries Minister as Vice Chairman among other members.
The State is endowed with 1.92 lakh ha of aquaculture area, out of which, an extent of 81000 ha is under shrimp culture, 6000 ha under mud crab culture, 1600 under seabass culture and 1.04 ha is under fresh fish culture.
AP state share in the total the total seafood exports value in the country is 36.11% (2018-19), according to the MPEDA sources. The seafood value has increased from Rs 1029 crore (2004-05) to 16852 crore with an annual average growth rate of 28.05%.
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