Aquaculture Development Act (Cap. 204:01). Country/Territory Belize Document type Legislation Date 2007 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Food & nutrition, Fisheries, Water Keyword Basic legislation Animal health Aquaculture Aquatic animals Authorization/permit Biodiversity Business/industry/corporations Certification Enforcement/compliance Cooperative/producer organization Ecofriendly products/ecofriendly processes EIA Environmental standards Fish disease Fish products Freshwater pollution Inspection Institution International trade Alien species Monitoring Ownership Offences/penalties Processing/handling Protection of environment Protection of species Hygiene/sanitary procedures Standards Sustainable development Sustainable use Drugs Fishery management and conservation Food quality control/food safety Packaging/labelling Effluent waste water/discharge Pollution control Waste disposal Water abstraction Freshwater resources management Geographical area Americas, Central America, Latin America and the Caribbean, Small Island Developing States Entry into force notes This Act shall come into force on the day it is appointed by the Minister by Order published in the Gazette. Abstract This Act lays down provisions for the establishment, functions and powers of the Belize Aquaculture Authority. The principal function of the Authority is to promote and facilitate the sustainable development of aquaculture and ensure compliance with the laws and regulations governing the aquaculture industry in Belize. Furthermore, the Authority carries out its activities to better address issues relating to: (a) better management of natural resources for sustainable aquaculture development, with an emphasis on offshore and onshore land, water resources and habitats; (b) the identification and prioritization of pilot or research programs and institutional linkages; (c) the identification and establishment of guidelines and other minimum standards regulating the importation and pathological testing of any native or exotic species with the objective of eliminating or limiting disease communicability to existing and future aquaculture live stocks or native species; (d) the identification and establishment of appropriate guidelines and standards, including eco-labelling standards, to be used on aquaculture products produced in and exported from Belize; (e) the implementation of principles of ecologically sustainable development, in order to minimize adverse effects on non-target species and the environment, such as the prohibition on waste disposal of veterinary drugs and hazardous chemicals; and (f) the optimization of economic efficiency and sustainability in the rearing, propagation and exploitation of aquaculture resources. This Act provides for the establishment of the Belize Aquaculture Producers Association as an autonomous institution. Full text English Website www.agm.gov.bz