I thank the hon. First Member for Montagne Blanche and Grand River South East for his question. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, with regard to part (a) of the question, local and international applicants who wish to engage in fish farming activities in the fish farming zones will be evaluated on the basis of – (i) their proposal for the type of aquaculture project and methodology to be used; (ii) the site location and the rationale; (iii) the infrastructure, equipment and technology to be adopted; (iv) the implementation phases; (v) the job creation plan; (vi) the contribution to community development; (vii) environmental safeguard and risk management measures, as well as stakeholder engagement. As far as the selection process is concerned, proposal for all future aquaculture projects will be evaluated by a technical committee under the aegis of the Economic Development Board. This committee will comprise representatives of the Fisheries Division and the competent authority of the Ministry, representatives of the Ministry of Finance, of the Ministry of Housing and Lands, Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, including the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Division, and of course, representatives of Ministry of Tourism, Department for Continental Shelf, Maritime Zones Administration and Exploration, and the EDB and then, of course, the Association des Hôteliers et Restaurateurs de l'île Maurice, there will be a representative from the association. The technical committee will, therefore, submit its recommendations to the supervising officer of the Ministry. As regard barachois, an Expression of Interest was launched by the Ministry in May 2025 to invite potential promoters. However, none of the 13 proposals received could be recommended by the Evaluation Committee set up at the level of the Ministry, as the project did not meet minimum requirements as established in the policy of barachois to qualify for allocation of a barachois. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Government is committed to leveraging investment to increase our fish production capacity, support import substitution and improve national food security. However, the criteria established by the previous government were too prohibitive for potential promoters to be able to engage in aquaculture activities in barachois. Now, if we want to encourage investment in this sector, the barachois policy has to be reviewed. In this regard, my Ministry has already initiated consultations with relevant stakeholders, including Ministry of Finance, Housing and Lands, the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change and EDB to review the barachois policy. As regards part (b) of the question, once a project for fish farming zone is approved, the promoter will be issued with an authorisation in principle by the Ministry to enable him to apply for an Environment Impact Assessment licence from the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change and for concession from Prime Minister's Office. For fish farming within a barachois, I am advised by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change that there is no requirement for an EIA licence under the Environment Act. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am further advised that a Social Impact Assessment will be required only for large scale projects in fish farming zone. Promoters will be required to identify the impact of the proposed project on the local community and to indicate the benefits which shall accrue to the local community, as well as to small entrepreneurs in terms of employment and business opportunities. The promoters will also be required to submit their proposal for stakeholder engagement. Upon signature of the Deed of Concession, the promoter will be eligible to apply for a Fish Farming Licence with the Ministry to operate the aquaculture project in the allocated fish farming zone. Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, concerning part (c) of the question, I wish to reassure the House that promoters intending to conduct fish farming activities in both fish farming zones and in barachois will mandatorily need to carry out stakeholder consultations with, inter alia, traditional fishers, Non-Governmental Organisations, tourism operators in the relevant localities to address and resolve any conflict that may arise, as I previously stated through my intervention on the Budget Speech, at our Sitting of 25 June 2026, we will make sure that everybody is taken on board. There will be wide and open discussion with all stakeholders, be they traditional artisanal fishers or the NGOs and we will make sure that there is a call for fishers to be part of the process.

The hon. Third Member for Vieux Grand Port and Rose Belle! SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY – WASTE SEGREGATION & MARKET WASTE - IMPLEMENTATION