(a) There is established the Aquaculture Advisory Council. Such council shall be composed of the following members: (1) Three appointed by the Governor, one of whom shall be a representative of the shellfisheries industry who is licensed to operate less than one thousand acres of shellfish beds, one of whom shall be a representative from a marine habitat conservation organization and one of whom shall be a scholar in marine studies; (2) two appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, one of whom shall be a chief executive officer of a coastal municipality that is located west of the Connecticut River; (3) one appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate who shall be a recreational shellfisherman; (4) one appointed by the majority leader of the House of Representatives who shall be a chief executive officer of a coastal municipality that is located east of the Connecticut River; (5) one appointed by the majority leader of the Senate who shall be a representative of the shellfisheries industry who is licensed to operate two thousand five hundred acres or more of shellfish beds; (6) one appointed by the minority leader of the House of Representatives who shall be a representative of a shellfish commission; (7) one appointed by the minority leader of the Senate who shall be a representative of the shellfisheries industry who is licensed to operate one thousand or more but less than two thousand five hundred acres of shellfish beds; (8) the Commissioner of Agriculture, or the commissioner's designee; (9) the Commissioner of Public Health, or the commissioner's designee; and (10) the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, or the commissioner's designee. Appointments shall be made not later than October 1, 2015. The Governor shall designate the chairperson of the council and the council shall elect a vice-chairperson from among its members. The council shall be located in the Agricultural Experiment Station for administrative purposes only.

(b) The Aquaculture Advisory Council shall: (1) Develop a recommended plan to expand the shellfish industry in Connecticut; (2) provide recommendations on procedures for the public availability of maps indicating the names of state shellfish bed lessees; (3) review the state shellfish leasing process and make recommendations to the Governor and to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment for any recommended changes to such leases or lease processes; (4) review health and safety standards pertaining to the state's shellfish industry; (5) review existing laws and procedures pertaining to recreational shellfishing in Connecticut; (6) review other coastal states' laws and regulations pertaining to shellfish sizes and make recommendations for changes to Connecticut's shellfish size law; (7) coordinate with other states to inform recommendations on how to further develop the state's shellfish industry; and (8) provide recommendations on policies of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Aquaculture.

(c) The advisory council shall meet quarterly. Not later than July 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the council shall submit a report on the status of the state's shellfish industry and any attendant recommendations to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to the environment, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 116.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 effective July 1, 2015.

See Sec. 4-38f for definition of “administrative purposes only”.