| definition |
- The Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture responsibilities include
leasing submerged State lands for shellfish operations including aquaculture,
classifying shellfishing waters, monitoring water quality, identifying sources
of pollution, seeking corrective actions, and licensing of all commercial
shellfish operations. These operations also include municipal recreational
relays and scientific studies, as well as commercial seed oyster harvesting,
relaying/transplanting operations, shellstock shipping which may include market
harvesting, reshipping, shucking and repacking of shucked shellfish. The
bureau is also involved in seed oyster enhancement activities through its
cultch program and licenses conch (whelk) fishing. It works closely with and
depends upon the cooperation and assistance of each town where market
harvesting, recreational shellfishing and relay activities are allowed in order
to correctly classify shellfishing waters within each municipality. The
enforcement of laws relating to illegal harvesting is handled by the Department
of Environmental Protection (DEP), Law Enforcement Division working
cooperatively with municipal enforcement officials.
The Bureau of Aquaculture laboratory is multifunctional. The laboratory
provides services and functions which support the Shellfish Sanitation Program
and maintains compliance with the US Food and Drug Administration's National
Shellfish Sanitation Program Model Ordinance (NSSP-MO). The laboratory provides
analyses for environmental quality and aquatic animal health. The laboratory
also functions as a research facility for other institutions on a collaborative
basis.
[Source: "http://www.ct.gov/doag/cwp/view.asp?a=1369&Q=259170"]
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