Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman MAUREEN ROWAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Assemblywoman MARGIE DONLON, M.D.
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman CLINTON CALABRESE
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Requires Department of Agriculture to develop guidance on shellfish aquaculture agritourism.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning shellfish aquaculture agritourism and supplementing Title 4 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Aquaculture Advisory Council, the Office of Aquaculture Coordination, the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring within the Department of Environmental Protection, and any other appropriate State office or agency, shall develop and provide guidance on shellfish aquaculture agritourism practices for use by aquatic farmers and shellfish dealers. The guidance required pursuant to this subsection shall comply with the applicable federal, State, and local regulations concerning aquaculture and agritourism.
b. The agritourism guidance issued by the department and council, pursuant to subsection a. of section 1 of this act, shall provide information on resources which support the shellfish aquaculture agritourism industry, which may include, but not be limited to:
(1) meeting applicable farming and food safety requirements;
(2) diversifying species grown;
(3) conforming with handling requirements at harvest;
(4) providing in-person experiences of shellfish farming;
(5) improving access to agritourism markets;
(6) developing the aquaculture workforce;
(7) financing aquaculture agritourism; and
(8) navigating the federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations that impact the agritourism and aquaculture industries in New Jersey.
2. The Department of Agriculture shall publish any guidance developed pursuant to section 1 of this act on its Internet website and shall ensure that a copy of the written guidance is annually sent by electronic mail to each holder of a shellfish dealer certification or an aquatic farmer license under the “New Jersey Aquaculture Development Act,” P.L.1997, c.236 (C.4:27-1 et al.).
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill would direct the Department of Agriculture (department), in consultation with the Aquaculture Advisory Council (council), the Office of Aquaculture Coordination, the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring within the Department of Environmental Protection, and any other appropriate State office or agency, to develop and disseminate guidance on shellfish aquaculture agritourism. The guidance would be required to be compliant with federal, State, and local regulations on both aquaculture and agritourism. In formulating agritourism guidance, the department and council would be directed to provide information on resources which support the shellfish aquaculture agritourism industry in meeting farm and food safety requirements, diversifying species grown, conforming with handling requirements at harvest, providing in-person experiences of shellfish farming, accessing agritourism markets, developing the aquaculture workforce, financing aquaculture agritourism, and navigating the federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations that impact the agritourism and aquaculture industries in New Jersey. The department would be directed to publish any guidance on its Internet website, and ensure that a copy of the written guidance is annually sent by electronic mail to each holder of an aquatic farmer license or shellfish dealer certification.