BILL ANALYSIS �
AJR 43
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Date of Hearing: June 17, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE
Anthony Rendon, Chair
AJR 43 (Chesbro) - As Introduced: April 9, 2014
SUBJECT : California Shellfish
SUMMARY : States legislative findings and declarations
regarding shellfish beds and the Legislature's support for a
clean and healthy marine environment to protect shellfish beds
and support for efforts to develop an improved permitting
process. Specifically, this bill :
1)States legislative findings regarding the California Shellfish
Initiative, a collaborative effort of shellfish growers,
regulators, nongovernmental organizations, and scientists, to
restore and expand California's shellfish resource; the
benefits to California's coastal communities of expanding
local sustainable shellfish aquaculture and habitat
restoration; and the Initiative's support of a Marine
Aquaculture Programmatic Environmental Impact Report being
prepared by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) on
expanding shellfish production in the state.
2)States the Legislature's support for ensuring a clean and
healthy marine environment to protect existing shellfish beds;
for granting access to additional acreage for shellfish
farming and restoration; and for a dialogue between industry,
environmental, and federal and state agency leaders to develop
an improved permitting process that is efficient and
economical for shellfish restoration and commercial farming.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for registration of shellfish aquaculture operations
and regulation of facilities by DFW.
2)Requires DFW in consultation with the Aquaculture Development
Committee to prepare programmatic environmental impact reports
for existing and potential commercial aquaculture operations
in coastal and inland waters if specified conditions are met.
FISCAL EFFECT : None; this is a nonbinding resolution and was
AJR 43
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not identified by Legislative Counsel for review by a fiscal
committee.
COMMENTS : The author indicates the purpose of this resolution
is to highlight goals that will protect and enhance our marine
habitats, foster environmental quality, increase jobs, encourage
interagency coordination and communication, and strengthen
coastal communities. The California Shellfish Initiative is a
joint effort of shellfish aquaculture industry participants and
state and federal agencies working to improve the permitting
process and expand shellfish aquaculture and restoration in the
state. The author believes that a successful Initiative effort
will engage coastal stakeholders in a comprehensive process to
grow California's sustainable shellfish harvest, restore natural
shellfish reefs, protect clean water, and enhance healthy
watersheds, in conformance with California's laws and policies.
California is the third largest shellfish consuming state in the
nation, but in-state production of shellfish meets less than
half that demand, contributing to a trade deficit and lost
economic opportunity for the state. The author has introduced
this bill to encourage the state to increase shellfish
production in a way that will help meet demand while also
creating environmentally sustainable "blue jobs" in California's
coastal communities.
Support Arguments : Supporters of this resolution emphasize the
importance of clean water and healthy marine ecosystems for
shellfish production. The goals of the California Shellfish
Initiative are to improve the permitting process and responsibly
expand shellfish aquaculture and restoration in the state.
Supporters note the economic value of sustainable seafood
production, and the importance of native shellfish restoration
projects as well.
No opposition arguments have been received.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Coast Seafoods Company
Hog Island Oyster Company
Passmore Ranch
Taylor Shellfish Farms
AJR 43
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Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Diane Colborn / W., P. & W. / (916)
319-2096