The Commissioner of Agriculture may lease any state recreational shellfish bed to a municipality which is adjacent to such bed for ten dollars per acre per year pursuant to a plan approved by said commissioner for the management of such bed by such municipality. The use of local shellfish programs shall be available to any resident of the state, without regard to residence in the municipality. The use of shellfish beds shall be restricted to recreational shellfishing. The fee charged for licenses or permits for use of local shellfish programs shall be the same for residents and nonresidents of the municipality. Any fees received by any such municipality from the issuance of licenses or permits issued to residents of the municipality for use of local shellfish programs shall be retained by the municipality. Such fees shall be used by the municipality to manage local shellfish programs. Any fees received by any such municipality from nonresidents for the use of local shellfish programs shall be deposited by the commissioner in a revolving fund to carry out the state shellfish management and enforcement plan. Municipalities that lease shellfish beds shall make such beds available by access from the shore, including providing space for parking, and access by marine approach.

(P.A. 97-234, S. 10; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 146(e); P.A. 04-189, S. 1.)

History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 replaced Commissioner of Agriculture with Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 04-189 repealed Sec. 146 of June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, thereby reversing the merger of the Departments of Agriculture and Consumer Protection, effective June 1, 2004.