Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The District Fisheries Officer in a recent notice instructed shrimp seed hatchery owners operating in Gopalpur to move their seawater intake systems from the area in Gopalpur declared as Blue Flag zone.
According to the reports, the letter of the Fisheries Officer to hatchery owners said- “I am strictly directed by Collector and District Magistrate, Ganjam to shift water intake systems far away from the declared zone within three days from the date of the notice, otherwise the district administration will take drastic action.”
After the notice was circulated, the owners were in a lurch as the hatcheries have no other option to survive without the seawater. Of around 34 hatcheries in the State, 32 are located in Gopalpur area from where shrimp seeds are exported to different districts and other States
The report further added that the hatcheries have been allowed by Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) and have temporary 10X10 feet tent/thatched construction at the beach to draw the water through a four-inch pipeline that runs three feet underground.
