Process of issuance of License for doing Aquaculture Business -

(1)Licenses already issued to the existing aquaculture businessoperators by any department under any other Act shall be valid and it is not necessary to apply for license afresh. However, these old licenses are to be endorsed by the licensing authority of this Act in order to consider them to be issued under this Act. (2)The old licenses endorsed by the licensing authority are governed by the provisions of this Act. (3)The applications received, under sub-section (1) for endorsement of existing licenses, the process of endorsement shall be completed by the licensing authority within fifteen (15) days, by following the prescribed procedure. (4)If acceptance or rejection of application made under sub-section (1) is not issued within the stipulated time of fifteen (15) days, the license shall be deemed to be endorsed. (5)Any person who wish to start a new Aquaculture Business Operations/any firm registered under Partnership Act (Central Act No.9 of 1932)/ any company registered under Companies Act (Central Act No.18 of 2013), which desires to start new Aquaculture Business Operations shall apply for the license under prescribed category of Aquaculture Business Operations along with the prescribed license fee to the Licensing Authority in the manner prescribed under Rules to be framed under this Act. (6)In case if any person/firm/company wishes to undertake more than one Aquaculture Business Operations shall need to tick concerned business operations in the application and need to remit license fee for each type of business operation separately. (7)If any application under sub-section (5) is submitted, the Licensing Authority:- (a)If satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled all the terms and conditions of application for carrying out the Aquaculture Business Operations, the Licensing Authority shall issue the license within fifteen (15) days from the date of application; or (b)If the Licensing Authority is of the opinion that the applicant has not fulfilled majority of the prescribed terms and conditions, the applicant shall be informed the same and be given an opportunity to furnish documents before rejecting the application within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of letter issued by licensing authority. (c)If acceptance or rejection of application made under sub-section (1) is not issued within the stipulated time of fifteen (15) days, the license shall be deemed to be issued. (8)If any person/firm, carrying out the Aquaculture Business Operations without any license immediately before commencement of this law, the person/company/ firm shall apply to the Licensing Authority within a period of four (4) months from the appointed date as may be prescribed. (9)If application is not submitted for license within the time limit as prescribed under sub-section (4), the Licensing Authority can order for stopping all Aquaculture Business Operations being undertaken by the person/company/firm. (10)If any application under sub-section (8) is submitted, the Licensing Authority:- (a)If satisfied that the applicant has fulfilled all the terms and conditions of application for carrying out the Aquaculture Business Operations, the Licensing Authority shall issue the license within fifteen (15) days from the date of application; or (b)If the Licensing Authority is of the opinion that the applicant has not fulfilled majority of the prescribed terms and conditions, the applicant shall be informed the same and be given an opportunity to furnish documents before rejecting the application within fifteen (15) days from the date of receipt of letter issued by the licensing authority. (c)Till the time of receiving acceptance or rejection of application made under sub-section (8), the applicant may continue to operate aquaculture business operations. (d)If acceptance or rejection of application made under sub-section (8) is not issued within the stipulated time of 15 days, the license shall be deemed to be endorsed. (11)The licensing authority shall make sure all the applications for issuance of license / endorsement of license are in full shape so that the rate of rejection is as minimum as possible. The licensing authority shall facilitate the application process and shall render all possible support and assistance to the applicants.