(a) The Commissioner of Agriculture may issue a nontransferable license, in the name of the state, under such policies as the commissioner may prescribe and for a period of not greater than five years and an annual license fee of twenty-five dollars per acre, for the planting and cultivating of seaweed in any area within Connecticut's coastal waters. Any person who has a shellfishing ground lease authorized pursuant to section 26-194 or 26-257a shall not be required to remit such annual license fee. Any person licensed pursuant to this section may buy, possess, ship, transport or sell seaweed that meets the applicable requirements of sections 22-11h and 22-11i and any regulation adopted pursuant to said sections 22-11h and 22-11i. For the purpose of this section, “seaweed” means seaweed, as defined in section 22-11i.
(b) The General Joint Aquaculture Programmatic Permit Process Review of the Department of Agriculture's Bureau of Aquaculture, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's Office of Long Island Sound Programs, and the Army Corps of Engineers may subject any such licensee to the requirements of sections 22a-359 to 22a-363f, inclusive.
(c) Any such license or license renewal, issued pursuant to this section, shall require the licensee to make a good faith effort to cultivate and harvest seaweed from the licensed area. Any licensee who fulfills all of his or her obligations pursuant to said license, upon the expiration of said license, shall be given preference by the commissioner in the relicensing of such ground for a like term and purpose as that granted in the original license. The commissioner shall not renew the license of any licensee who fails to remit the license fee required pursuant to this section. No application for the renewal of a license pursuant to this section shall be granted without notice or advertisement of the pendency thereof by the commissioner. No renewal of a license for grounds previously leased pursuant to this section shall be granted when the commissioner, for cause, determines to cease licensure of such grounds for seaweed culture.
(d) In no instance shall the Commissioner of Agriculture grant a license to cultivate seaweed pursuant to this section such that the grant of such license interferes with an established right of fishing or an established right of shellfishing. Any license issued pursuant to this section that interferes with an established right of fishing or an established right of shellfishing shall be void.
(e) Any person who interferes with, annoys or molests another in the enjoyment of any license issued pursuant to this section shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months or both.
(f) The Commissioner of Agriculture may adopt regulations, pursuant to chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this section.
(P.A. 13-238, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 13-238 effective July 2, 2013.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 22 - Agriculture. Domestic Animals
Chapter 422 - Department of Agriculture
Section 22-1. - Department of Agriculture.
Section 22-1a and 22-1b. - Commissioner, department and council, general terminology change.
Section 22-1c. - Terminology change.
Section 22-2. - Board of Agriculture.
Section 22-3. - Duties of commissioner. Preservation of Connecticut agricultural lands. Definitions.
Section 22-4. - Appointment of commissioner.
Section 22-4a. - Delegation of commissioner's authority.
Section 22-4d. - Cease and desist orders.
Section 22-5. - Deputy commissioner.
Section 22-6. - Powers and duties of commissioner.
Section 22-6a. - Receipt of federal funds and gifts by commissioner.
Section 22-6b. - Refunds of sums paid Department of Agriculture.
Section 22-6f. - Participation in farmers' market coupon programs. Regulations.
Section 22-6g. - Connecticut Farmers' Market/Women, Infants and Children Program: Definitions.
Section 22-6q. - Connecticut Farmers' Market/Senior Nutrition Program.
Section 22-6s. - Operation of food establishment by a farmer at a certified farmers' market.
Section 22-6t. - Voucher value.
Section 22-7. - Administrative civil penalties.
Section 22-7q. - Filing of bond in administrative appeal.
Section 22-8. - Duties of commissioner re avian ecology.
Section 22-9. - Supervision of institutional farms.
Section 22-10. - Reports of moneys expended.
Section 22-11. - Promotion of agricultural interests.
Section 22-11a. - “Integrated pest management” defined.
Section 22-11c. - Aquaculture development: Definitions.
Section 22-11d. - Aquaculture development: Lead agency.
Section 22-11e. - Interagency Aquaculture Coordinating Committee.
Section 22-11g. - Releases from aquaculture systems.
Section 22-11i. - Licensing of aquaculture producers. Regulations.
Section 22-11k. - Ninety-day aquaculture permit application final determinations.
Section 22-12. - Appropriations for promotion of agricultural interests.
Section 22-12a. - Use of term “Connecticut State Fair”.
Section 22-12b. (Formerly Sec. 26-41). - Licensing of fur breeders. Disease control.
Section 22-13. - Employment of minors in agriculture.
Section 22-14. - Birth certificate or agricultural work permit required.
Section 22-15. - Administration. Regulations. Inspection.
Section 22-16. - Employer of more than fifteen affected.
Section 22-17a. - Sanitary regulations concerning agricultural workers.
Section 22-18 to 22-26. - Farmers' loans, generally.
Section 22-26a. - Equine Advisory Council. Members.
Section 22-26b. - Agreement with landowner enrolled in federal Dairy Termination Program.
Section 22-26c. - Connecticut Farm Wine Development Council.
Section 22-26e. - Governor's Council for Agricultural Development and Innovation.
Section 22-26f. - State Veterinarian.
Section 22-26i. - Maintenance, repair and improvement account.
Section 22-26j. - Farm viability matching grant program. Eligibility. Purposes.
Section 22-26k. - Farm transition grant program. Matching grants.