Table of Contents
Press Releases

07/23/2021
Governor Lamont Indications Legislation Supporting Continued Development of Connecticut’s Shellfish Market
(STRATFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont these days joined legislators, point out officers, agricultural advocates, and organization reps for a invoice signing ceremony in Stratford close to the shore of the Extensive Island Audio to commemorate the enactment of laws applying guidelines that will aid ongoing growth of Connecticut’s shellfish business in an exertion to enhance the populations of oysters together the state’s shoreline and secure the sustainability of this lively sector of the overall economy.
The shellfish sector is a important sector of the Connecticut shoreline’s financial system, building extra than $30 million in sales annually and supporting 300 employment statewide. There are presently far more than 70,000 acres of shellfish farms less than cultivation in Connecticut.
The laws:
- Extends General public Act 490 protections – which were being adopted additional than 50 many years back and permit landowners to have their qualifying lands classified as farms and therefore topic to lowered assets tax rates – to involve aquaculture functions
- Lets far more flexibility to actively manage the natural oyster beds in Extended Island Seem, guaranteeing that Connecticut oysters will be accessible for upcoming generations by improved administration of the purely natural beds and
- Reconstitutes and expands the Connecticut Seafood Council with new membership to travel the market ahead.
It gained overwhelming support from small business and agriculture businesses across the point out, which includes the Connecticut Farm Bureau Affiliation, the Connecticut chapter of the National Audubon Modern society, the Connecticut Cafe Association, and many small business enterprise leaders that depend on the sustainability of Connecticut’s aquaculture to help their functions.
“Aquaculture is just one of the quickest increasing sectors in Connecticut, and this legislation proceeds to transfer the dial on this sector receiving some of the similar protections and support that land farmers get,” Governor Lamont explained. “My administration will continue focusing on commonsense adjustments like these that business homeowners in Connecticut are entitled to. I glimpse ahead to viewing this presently wonderful field carry on to improve. Let’s distribute the word significantly and broad, Connecticut has some of the greatest oysters all over.”
“This law makes certain that the foreseeable future for the market is affluent and encompassing of all the sorts of aquaculture sector in our point out, like seaweed and indoor output,” Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt said. “The regulation also establishes parity and obtain to the home tax reduction system, Community Act 490, to include aquaculture generation, more ingraining this sector as a side of Connecticut agriculture. Several many thanks to the field, the Connecticut Farm Bureau, and UConn Sea Grant for their partnership and determination to this proposal and the future of the aquaculture in our condition.”
“On behalf of its members and aquaculture farmers, the Connecticut Farm Bureau many thanks Governor Lamont and the legislature for their help of this incredibly important legislation,” Connecticut Farm Bureau President Paul Larson and Govt Director Joan Nichols claimed in a joint statement. “This laws presents equally financial reduction and fairness in taxation for aquaculture farmers throughout Connecticut by expanding Community Act 490 to include aquaculture into the state’s definition of farmland.”
The governor observed that shellfish aquaculture also presents a amount of environmental benefits, such as by improving sediment quality as a result of the harvesting approach, stabilizing sediments and serving to to defend the shoreline from erosion, and giving vital ecosystem features by producing construction and habitat for other species that supply a foodstuff supply for fish and other maritime species.
The legislation is General public Act 21-24, An Act Regarding Connecticut’s Shellfish Restoration Application, The Connecticut Seafood Council and the Taxation of Specified Underwater Farmlands.
- 
- Twitter: @GovNedLamont
- Facebook: Workplace of Governor Ned Lamont