[Adopted 12-18-1990 by Ord. No. 69; amended in its entirety 6-14-1994]
Pursuant to the statutes made and provided and upon recommendation of the Old Saybrook Board of Selectmen shellfish regulations are hereby adopted by the Town of Old Saybrook.
The harvesting of shellfish from the waters under the jurisdiction of the Town of Old Saybrook shall be regulated by the Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission.
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission shall consist of five members appointed by the Board of Selectmen. The terms of the Commissioners shall be staggered so that no more than three members may be up for reappointment in any given year. Appointed members will serve a two-year term and may be reappointed. The Commission shall select a Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission shall establish a regular schedule of meetings. Meetings will be open to the public and minutes of all meetings kept in a file in the Town Clerk's office for public inspection.
A Special Enforcement Officer may be appointed by the Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission when required for the supervision of transplants of shellfish, and for other enforcement purposes. A member of the Shellfish Commission in good standing may act as the designated Special Enforcement Officer.
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission shall establish seasons for shellfishing, establish limits, quotas, issue licenses and publish notice of action in a newspaper having a substantial circulation. Revenue obtained from licenses will be deposited in the Old Saybrook Shellfish Fund to be spent at the discretion of the Shellfish Commission.
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission reserves the right to issue depuration permits, aquaculture permits, transplant permits and educational/experimental permits to harvest, transplant, plant cultch, reseed, cultivate or culture shellfish in areas designated by the Commission. Revenue obtained from permits will be deposited in the Old Saybrook Shellfish Fund to be spent at the discretion of the Shellfish Commission.
The Shellfish Commission reserves the right to implement shellfish management plans for areas listed as permanently closed for shellfishing by the State Department of Health. Management plans may include provisions for regulating seasons, types of equipment, harvest quotas, the issuing of licenses and assess fees or contract relays of shellfish.
[Amended 3-13-2002]
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission shall not designate any ground listed as natural clam, oyster, scallop or mussel beds. All other designations shall consist of renewable permits issued by said Commission. The fees, conditions, regulations, and provisions for all such permits issued by said Commission shall be voted upon by the Shellfish Commission.
Public hearing shall be held to consider permit applications. At public hearings, written communications will be received and interested parties will be heard. All permit applications must be filed with the Town Clerk for public inspection. Copies of issued permits will also be kept in the Town Clerk's shellfish file.
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission reserves the right to designate areas for Town/public use or zone areas for approved use.
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission may join with or sign cooperative agreements with neighboring towns concerning shellfish management under C.G.S. § 26-257a governing local shellfisheries.
The Old Saybrook Shellfish Commission reserves the right to amend any of the above upon approval of the Board of Selectmen.