H97 - 2015 Appropriations Act, Sec. 14.10C: Water Column Leasing Clarification (SL 2015-241)

Overview: Sec. 14.10C of S.L. 2015-241, as amended by Sec. 5.6 of S.L. 2015-268, amends the statutes governing shellfish cultivation bottom leases and water column leases for aquaculture, to clarify that only a bottom lease is required to place devices or equipment for the cultivation and harvesting of shellfish or other marine resources on the leased bottom, provided that the devices or equipment do not extend more than 18 inches above the bottom. This provision also extends the duration of initial water column aquaculture leases from 5 years to 10 years, in conformity with the similar change for bottom leases enacted in Sec. 14.10 of this act.

This section became effective July 1, 2015.