§ 4:27-6 — Aquaculture considered component of agriculture.

6. a. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, aquaculture shall be considered a component of agriculture in the State, and aquacultured plants and animals shall be considered to be agriculture crops and animals. b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a person engaged in aquaculture shall have exclusive ownership of the aquatic organisms being aquacultured by that person. c. The Department of Agriculture shall be the lead State agency for the development, marketing, promotion, and advocacy of aquaculture in the State. d. The Department of Environmental Protection shall be the lead State agency with respect to regulation of aquaculture activities in the waters of the State. e. The Aquaculture Technology Transfer Center, composed of the Multispecies Aquaculture Demonstration Facility at Rutgers, The State University, the Aquaculture Training and Information Center at Cumberland County College, and the Rutgers Cooperative Extension, shall be the primary State facility for aquaculture education, extension, demonstration, and industry development and commercialization in the State. L.1997,c.236,s.6.