Aquaculture Development Act (Cap. 204:01).

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.
Part VI to this Act sets out the procedures and principles for aquaculture licensing and establishing or operating an aquaculture facility for the purpose of producing aquaculture products primarily for export, and the provisions on the inspection on aquaculture exporting businesses. An operating licence holder of any aquaculture facility shall conduct its activities subject to conditions, including but not limited to: the particular species to be produced; the size and location of the facility; the movement of live stocks; the control of water abstraction and effluent discharges and treatment; environmental impact assessments and mitigation measures approved pursuant to the Environmental Protection Act and Regulations made thereunder; the rearing, propagation and aquaculture methods to be used at the aquaculture facility, and measures relating to the slaughter, product standards, handling, processing and packaging of aquaculture products approved by the Belize Agricultural Health Authority; and measures regulating chemical uses at the aquaculture facility. Moreover, this Act sets out provisions on offences and penalties; the powers of Designated Officers, such as inspecting any aquaculture facility, searching the vehicle, vessel, land, premises, place or aquaculture facility, and taking samples; and the procedures relating to the appeals against the decisions of the Authority.