Stimulating investment in pearl farming in ... - World Fish Center

Page 43Summary of Pearl Farming Licence conditions(to be printed on back of licence)This summary is provided for convenience and ease of reference. For a full and authoritative list of conditionsapplying to pearl farming operations, refer to the Pearl Farming Regulation 2008.Permitted activities• Deployment and harvesting of spat collectors.• Purchase of spat from individuals, communities, hatcheries and other licensed pearl farmers.• Purchase of adult pearl oysters from local fishermen/ communities, hatcheries and other licensed pearlfarmers.• Rearing and seeding of pearl oysters.• Harvesting, processing and marketing of pearls.Regulations and restrictions• Maximum number of pearl oysters to be held on the farming site is one million• Maximum stocking densities of pearl oysters:o one hundred thousand (100,000) shell per hectare;o one shell per cubic metre of water occupied by the farm lines.For methods of calculating stocking densities, see Schedule 3 of the Pearl Farming Regulation 2008.• Minimum spacing of ten (10) metres between farm lines.• Minimum spacing of five (5) metres between spat lines.• No farm lines or spat lines to be attached to coral heads or other natural features.• No farm lines or spat lines to be set:o within one hundred (100) metres of the coast or any reef;o in waters having a depth of less than twenty (20) metres;o above areas of living coral.• Farm lines and spat lines to be set so that mainlines are at least two (2) metres below the sea surface.• Hatcheries to be located on land, at least fifteen (15) metres from the limit of mean high water springtides, and three (3) metres above it.• Hatcheries must have an effluent disposal reservoir.Activities requiring a special permit• Relocation of pearl farming facility by more than one kilometre.• Transportation of pearl oysters over a distance of more than 25 kilometres.• Importation of pearl oysters from overseas, regardless of size, age or stage of life.• Importation of biological material, including algal culturesActivities not permitted• Use of anti-fouling paints or building materials treated with toxic chemicals for over-water structures.• Keeping of animals on over-water structures.• Disposal of waste, including fouling waste removed from pearl oysters, into the sea.• Use of containers for floats if they have previously contained toxic chemicals.Environmental responsibility• Operators are expected to show responsibility for the marine environment through the application oftheir environmental management plan or code of practice. In particular, operators should:o take action to minimise spillage of fuel and oil during daily operations;ooensure litter and rubbish is not thrown into the sea;ensure staff are properly trained in cleanup of fuel and oil spills, and proper methods of wastedisposal.Other• This licence must be displayed in a prominent place at or within the vicinity of the pearl farmingfacility to which it relates.• Conditions of licence may be reviewed or varied by the Director of Fisheries.• This licence is not transferable.This licence may be cancelled if the licensee breaches the licence conditions or the provisions of the FisheriesAct (1998), the Fisheries (Amendment) Regulations 2005, or the Pearl Farming Regulation 2008.