Excerpts of letter from Dr. M. Sakthivel, President of the Aquaculture Foundation of India; A-5, Ranga Reddy Gardens; Neelanakarai, Chennai - 600 041 India (e-mail <mukil.sakthi@gems.vsnl.net.in>) to P. Sorgeloos:
"... I hope that you are aware of the recent judgement of our Supreme Court against aquaculture. As per the judgement, the coastal aquaculture for shrimp is not permitted in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) i.e. (500 meters from hightide line and 100 meter from the creek or estuary) except traditional and improved traditional farms. Therefore only tide-fed farms are permitted in the CRZ. About 85000 hectares of shrimp farms have been developed in the CRZ with the full support of Government during the last 10 years. The recent judgement of Supreme Court has pronounced that these farms have been set up in violation of the CRZ notification. However, shrimp farms have been permitted beyond 500 meters from hightide line, subject to the condition that these farms do not utilize agricultural land/wet land/salt pan and also do not cause any salinisation of the ground water. With all these conditions it may not be possible to undertake coastal aquaculture in India. Therefore, Aquaculture Foundation of India (AFI) has decided to go for a revision petition to the Supreme Court and find a way to get a stay order. In this connection, AFI is collecting contributions from all aqua companies/ farmers. We are also taking action to amend the existing CRZ notification by the Union Government. All State Governments and Ministry of Agriculture have been requested to take immediate action to amend the CRZ notification"
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