Title 20, Title 20 and Wildlife

The CRMC may adopt, repeal, and amend any rules and regulations that are necessary and appropriate to carry out the provisions of this chapter, subject to chapter 35 of title 42. Those rules and regulations shall be promulgated in consultation with the director and the MFC.

(a) The director is authorized and empowered to grant permits for, issue licenses for, and establish rules and regulations governing the taking, possession, sale, importation, and transportation of animal or plant species utilized in aquaculture; provided, however, that in the ca…

Any plant or animal species, as stipulated in an aquaculture permit, that are being cultivated within the designated, permitted area, are the personal property of the permittee.

(a) Aquaculture activities conducted in a manner consistent with permit and license conditions and in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this chapter, and aquaculture products harvested for sale as a result of those activities, shall be exempt from …

Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, or any other provision of law, if the director finds, or has cause to believe, that an aquaculture activity is causing, or is likely to cause, an immediate danger to marine life or the environment of the coastal waters of the state,…

The director shall have the authority to enter and inspect any and all areas subject to an aquaculture permit for the purpose of determining compliance with the terms and provisions of the permit.

(a) Any person who conducts aquaculture activities in excess of those authorized by an aquaculture permit shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to imprisonment not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. In addition to that fine a…

The permit or license of any person who has violated the provisions of this chapter, or the rules and regulations issued pursuant to it, including anyone holding a license or permit found guilty of a violation in accordance with § 20-10-16(b), may be suspended or revoked by the C…

(a) Any police officer authorized to make arrests, the director, and conservation officers appointed under the authority of § 20-1-6 shall be empowered: (1) To enforce all laws, rules, and regulations relating to this chapter; (2) To execute all warrants and search warrants for t…

If any provision of this chapter, or any rule, regulation, or determination made under this chapter, or the application of this chapter to any person, agency, or circumstance, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this chapter, or the rule, regula…

As used in this chapter: (1) “Aquaculture” refers to the cultivation, rearing, or propagation of aquatic plants or animals under either natural or artificial conditions; (2) “CRMC” means the coastal resources management council; (3) “Director” or “department” means the director o…

The CRMC may grant permits for the conduct of aquaculture to any person, corporation, or business entity, chartered under the laws of this state, subject to the provisions of this chapter. Those permits for coastal waters shall be for a term not to exceed fifteen (15) years and s…

Any person engaging in aquaculture shall be eligible for the tax exemption in § 44-18-30(32) provided that the requirements set forth in that section are met.

Any applicant desiring a permit to conduct aquaculture shall file with the CRMC a written application in any form that it may prescribe, setting forth the following information: (1) The name and address of the applicant; (2) A description of the location and amount of submerged l…

(a) Upon submission of a completed application to the CRMC, the CRMC shall notify the director, the MFC and any other parties that the CRMC may by regulation designate. (b) No application shall be approved by the CRMC or a permit granted prior to the consideration of recommendati…

(a) The CRMC, in accordance with chapter 6 of title 37, is authorized and empowered, when it shall serve the purposes of this chapter, to lease the land submerged under the coastal waters of the state, including any coastal ponds or estuaries to coastal rivers, and the water colu…

The CRMC shall establish, by regulation, fees for applications, permits, leases, and renewals. Those fees may be based on the cost of administration, including inspection, required by the aquaculture permitting process.

The CRMC may require the execution of a bond by the permittee to ensure the performance by the permittee of all of the conditions of his or her permit, and, in the event of a failure so to perform, to ensure the removal of aquaculture apparatus from the waters of the state.

(a) The CRMC shall require all permittees to mark off the areas under permit by appropriate ranges, monuments, stakes, buoys, or fences, so placed as not to interfere unnecessarily with navigation and other traditional uses of the surface. All permittees shall cause the area unde…