Iceland’s Shellfish Aquaculture Act regulates the cultivation of shellfish in salt water within Icelandic jurisdiction, with the aims of promoting the development of the sector while safeguarding biodiversity and nature conservation. The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority (Matvælastofnun) administers and supervises the regime, while other authorities have roles concerning harvesting, navigation and environmental matters. Shellfish cultivation generally requires either a temporary experimental permit or a cultivation permit, and proposed sites and methods are assessed for possible ecological or genetic impacts, compatibility with spatial planning and navigational safety; cultivation permits may be issued for up to ten years. Cultivation is permitted only in areas approved on the basis of sanitary assessments, and permits may be revoked where pollution or other unforeseen circumstances make conditions unacceptable or where operators breach legal or permit requirements. Operators must comply with monitoring and reporting duties, maintain compliant equipment, remove installations when operations end, and pay licensing and inspection fees; serious or repeated intentional violations may result in imprisonment for up to two years.
Исландия · 2011-06-23