SENATE RESOLUTION No. 144

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

216th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED OCTOBER 19, 2015

 

 

Sponsored by:

Senator  JEFF VAN DREW

District 1 (Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland)

Senator  CHRISTOPHER J. CONNORS

District 9 (Atlantic, Burlington and Ocean)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Urges State to promote, cultivate, and support shellfish aquaculture in NJ.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  

A Senate Resolution urging the State to promote, cultivate, and support shellfish aquaculture in New Jersey.

 

Whereas, Shellfish aquaculture, also known as shellfish farming, refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of bivalve shellfish, primarily hard clams and oysters in New Jersey; and

Whereas, The basic components of shellfish aquaculture include on-shore hatcheries where larvae are spawned and raised, leased grounds within the New Jersey coastal zone for grow out, maintenance of the gear and shellfish, and harvesting once the product reaches market size; and

Whereas, Shellfish are successfully farmed throughout the world and shellfish aquaculture represents a legitimate use of the marine environment for sustainable food production; and

Whereas, Shellfish production represents a large and growing segment of the United States and global seafood industry, with nearly 20 percent of domestic aquaculture production and 27 percent of worldwide aquaculture production attributed to shellfish aquaculture; and

Whereas, Shellfish grown in approved, certified waters provide a safe and nutritious healthy food source; and

Whereas, Shellfish improve water quality as they feed by filtering microscopic particles and by removing nitrogen and other unwanted nutrients from the water; and

Whereas, Recent studies reveal that shellfish aquaculture can improve biodiversity and species abundance in natural ecosystems by providing habitat for juvenile fish, crabs, and other organisms; and

Whereas, Shellfish aquaculture provides a high quality, high value, sustainable harvest from the ocean, bays, and rivers of the State, and also provides jobs and social and economic development, all while providing tangible benefits to the marine environment; now, therefore,

 

     Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.    This House urges the State to promote, cultivate, and support shellfish aquaculture in New Jersey.

 

     2.    Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of Agriculture, and Commissioner of Environmental Protection.

 

STATEMENT

 

     This resolution urges the State to promote, cultivate, and support shellfish aquaculture in New Jersey.  Shellfish aquaculture provides a high quality, high value, sustainable harvest from the ocean, bays, and rivers of the State, and also provides jobs and social and economic development, all while providing tangible benefits to the marine environment.