Indian Education Society ' s Management College and Research Centre Goa Government ’ s Dilemma

The global population is expected to touch 8 billion by the year 2025 and cause an increase in food shortages, the world over. Aquaculture produce, is a source of cheap proteinous food, is employment generating and a good foreign exchange earner through exports, in addition to having a large domestic market. Goa has the ideal land topography, tidal amplitude and climate for aquaculture, however, only scientific aquaculture practices can avoid outbreak of diseases and environment damage, due to soil and water pollution. The objective of this study is to develop a suitable policy for estuarine aquaculture farms operating in Goa State.Data for this study has been collected from both primary and secondary sources.The potential contribution of aquaculture towards national and household food security, poverty alleviation and income generation (both local and foreign exchange) in many parts of the world has been well recognized. However, there is a considerable lack of knowledge, understanding and focus on the importance of managing health in rural, small-scale, resource-poor, subsistencetype aquaculture. Potential interventions by the authorities are needed to assist farmers to prevent and control disease outbreaks through better health management. There is an urgent need for development and implementation of appropriate national policies and regulatory frameworks that can significantly contribute to reducing the risks to poorer households involved in rural aquaculture. . Aquaculture has an impact on the environment right from the moment development of land is taken up for pond construction, its impact continues throughout the conduct of farm operations and even after aquaculture operations are discontinued. The SWOT analysis studies the benefits against the social and environmental costs of aquaculture. National Environment Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur (NEERI) scientists observed that organic contamination of Goan rivers was high and farms showed saline intrusion. They also observed that the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) was being violated by most aquaculture farms in Goa. The Apex Court has ordered that all prawn farms within the CRZ should be closed down. However, the Goa Government is not in agreement with this order of the Supreme Court, as about 1/3 rd of Goan farms lie in CRZ designated areas.The NEERI report and Supreme Court directives on CRZ’s seek to ensure that taking up aquaculture activities does not adversely impact the surrounding areas and society at large.