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The 2007 Washington State Legislature passed SSHB 2220 relating to shellfish aquaculture.
This bill:

  • Commissions a series of intertidal geoduck aquaculture scientific research studies to be led by Washington Sea Grant.
  • Creates a Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory Committee with members representing a wide range of perspectives.
  • Directs Ecology to develop Shoreline Master Program guidelines for geoduck aquaculture operation siting and operation.
  • Directs the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to expand the information required for aquatic farm registration.

The Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory Committee has three tasks under this legislation:

  1. Developing recommendations for an integrated regulatory process for all current and new shellfish aquaculture projects. The shellfish regulatory review will include the new Corps 401 permit, Shoreline Master Program permitting, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife registration functions, and all other permit and approval processes. The legislation requires the Committee to report its recommendations and findings to the legislature by December 1, 2007, with a further report, if necessary, by December 1, 2008.
  2. Advising Ecology on new geoduck aquaculture guidelines to assist local Shoreline Master Program updates. These guidelines are to be adopted by rule into Ecology's Shoreline Master Program Guidelines. We anticipate that the rule process will occur roughly mid-2008 to mid-2009.
  3. Oversight of the intertidal geoduck scientific research program authorized by the bill. The Committee will advise Sea Grant on research topics and priorities, and ensure that research meets planning, permitting and data management needs.

The 14 members of the Shellfish Aquaculture Regulatory Committee represent the shellfish industry, the environmental community, shoreline property owners, four state agencies (Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, Agriculture, and Natural Resources) and tribal governments. The first Committee meeting will be held in July 2007. Click here to view the list of committee members. The project will conclude by June 2009.

Additional Information

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