A 5503 — Requires Department of Agriculture to develop guidance on shellfish aquaculture agritourism.

A5503 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As introduced.reported by the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on September 17, 2026, with amendments.

       1.    a.  The Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the Aquaculture Advisory Council, the Office of Aquaculture Coordination, the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring within the Department of Environmental Protection, 1the Department of Health,1 and any other appropriate State office or agency, shall develop and provide guidance on shellfish aquaculture agritourism practices for use by aquatic farmers and shellfish dealers.  The guidance required pursuant to this subsection shall comply with the applicable federal, State, and local regulations concerning aquaculture and agritourism.

     b.  The agritourism guidance issued by the department and1[and council,council]1, pursuant to subsection a.

of section1[section 1 of this act,act] this section1, shall provide information on resources which support the shellfish aquaculture agritourism industry, which may include, but not be limited to:

     (1)  meetingmeeting applicable farming and food safety requirements;

     (2)  diversifyingdiversifying species grown;

     (3)  conformingconforming with handling requirements at harvest;

     (4)  providingproviding in-person experiences of shellfish farming;

     (5)  improvingimproving access to agritourism markets;

     (6)  developingdeveloping the aquaculture workforce;

     (7)  financingfinancing aquaculture agritourism;

and      (8)  navigatingnavigating the federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations that impact the agritourism and aquaculture industries in New Jersey.

    STATEMENT        This bill would direct the Department of Agriculture (department), in consultation with the Aquaculture Advisory Council (council), the Office of Aquaculture Coordination, the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring within the Department of Environmental Protection, and any other appropriate State office or agency, to develop and disseminate guidance on shellfish aquaculture agritourism.  The guidance would be required to be compliant with federal, State, and local regulations on both aquaculture and agritourism.  In formulating agritourism guidance, the department and council would be directed to provide information on resources which support the shellfish aquaculture agritourism industry in meeting farm and food safety requirements, diversifying species grown, conforming with handling requirements at harvest, providing in-person experiences of shellfish farming, accessing agritourism markets, developing the aquaculture workforce, financing aquaculture agritourism, and navigating the federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations that impact the agritourism and aquaculture industries in New Jersey.  The department would be directed to publish any guidance on its Internet website, and ensure that a copy of the written guidance is annually sent by electronic mail to each holder of an aquatic farmer license or shellfish dealer certification.