Objectives of the Authority

The principal objectives of the Authority include the following– (a) recommending to the Minister specific policy actions on issues, problems, plans and programmes relating to– (i) the identification and quantification of the natural resource base for better aquaculture development in Belize, inclusive of all publicly and privately owned offshore and onshore land and water resources and habitats, and native and exotic species potentially suited or related to aquaculture development in Belize; Aquaculture Development [CAP. 204:01 13 (ii) The identification and prioritization, where appropriate, of pilot or research programs and institutional linkages necessary to bring about, or to promote, the sustainable development of the natural resource base referred to in sub-paragraph (i) above; (iii) the identification and prioritization of capital requirements necessary for the establishment and development of such pilot or research programmes, institutional linkages and aquaculture development in relation to the natural resource base referred to in sub- paragraph (i) above; (iv) the identification of suitable guidelines and areas of priority in the development of the natural resource base referred to in sub-paragraph (i), for the and sustainable development of the people and economy of Belize; (v) the identification and establishment of guidelines and other minimum standards regulating the importation and pathological testing of any native or exotic livestock likely to be used as or for in Belize, particularly with the objective of eliminating or limiting disease communicability to existing and future aquaculture live stocks or native species; (vi) the identification and establishment of appropriate guidelines and standards, 14 including eco-labelling guidelines and standards, to be observed and used on aquaculture products produced in, and exported from, Belize; (vii) the identification and establishment of appropriate programmes to analyse and formulate and recommendations in respect of any legal, administrative or technical measures that may constrain the sustainable of the aquaculture industry in Belize; (b) implementing efficient and cost-effective aquaculture management plans for and on behalf of Belize; (c) ensuring that the propagation, rearing or exploitation of aquaculture resources, and the carrying on of any related activities, are conducted in a manner that is consistent with the principles of ecologically sustainable development, in particular the need to minimize adverse effects on non-target species and the environment; (d) optimizing economic efficiency and sustainability in the rearing, propagation and exploitation of aquaculture resources; (e) establishing a regulatory and collection framework under which aquaculture resources are exploited; (f) ensuring accountability to, and the participation in formulation implementation by, the aquaculture industry represented by the Association; Aquaculture Development [CAP. 204:01 15 (g) participating in specific programmatic areas, including but not limited to– (i) research and development; (ii) technology transfer and technical assistance; (iii) extension of education and training activities to members of the (iv) facilitating the availability of credit to members of the Association; (v) monitoring and surveillance; (vi) marketing; (vii) laboratory testing; (viii) livestock certification; and (ix) eco-labelling; (h) requesting from local, regional and international sources, donations for the support of the programmatic activities specified in paragraph (g) above; (i) reviewing and assessing, on an annual basis or from time to time as occasion demands, issues relating to aquaculture development in Belize, including the need for research, and technological transfer and assistance; (j) achieving government targets in relation to the recovery of the costs of the Authority; 16 (k) doing all things necessary and expedient to secure the proper execution and purposes this Act.