The District Collector of West Godavari, Ch. Nagarani, has issued a vital directive to all aqua farmers: ensure your brackish water ponds are officially registered with the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA). This mandatory registration is crucial for effectively regulating aquaculture operations throughout the district’s Coastal Regulatory Zone, and officials are pushing for its completion by the end of October.
During a recent high-level review meeting involving aqua farmers and key representatives from the fisheries and revenue departments, Ms. Nagarani highlighted a significant development. The Central government has officially designated West Godavari district as a specialized ‘cluster’ for brackish water aquaculture.
The sheer scale of this industry in the region is impressive, with over 17,100 acres dedicated to brackish water aquaculture across the coastal belt. This area is particularly fertile, benefiting from where a branch of the mighty Godavari river gracefully flows into the Bay of Bengal.
Collector Nagarani further clarified the eligibility criteria for registration. She stated that ‘brackish water ponds situated two kilometers from the High Tide Level and 200 meters from the backwaters are specifically eligible for registration with the CAA for brackish water aquaculture purposes.’