2023 -- S 0198

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LC001547

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- AQUACULTURE

     

     Introduced By: Senators DiPalma, and Felag

     Date Introduced: February 16, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Environment & Agriculture

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 20-10 of the General Laws entitled "Aquaculture" is hereby amended

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by adding thereto the following section:

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     20-10-6.1. Sakonnet River area leases - Pilot program.

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     (a) Beginning on July 1, 2023, and for a period of two (2) years, all leases related to the

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Sakonnet River area granted pursuant to the provisions of ยง 20-10-6 shall be sited not less than one

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thousand feet (1,000'.) from the median high tide line. For purposes of this section, the Sakonnet

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River area shall be described as that river that extends northward from Rhode Island Sound to

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Mount Hope Bay, passing along the east side of Aquidneck Island. The coastal resources

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management council (CRMC) shall promulgate rules which delineate and define the exact

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boundaries of the Sakonnet River area.

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     (b) On July 1, 2023, any oyster farm operation in existence and located within the one

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thousand-foot (1,000') area shall be exempt from the restrictions contained in subsection (a) of this

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section.

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     (c) Unless renewed by the general assembly, the provisions of this section shall sunset and

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expire on July 1, 2025.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC001547

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO FISH AND WILDLIFE -- AQUACULTURE

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     This act would require all aquaculture leases in the Sakonnet river area, granted by the

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coastal resources management council (CRMC), to be located at least one thousand feet (1000')

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from the median high tide line. Oyster farms in operation within the one thousand-foot (1,000') area

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on July 1, 2023, would be exempt. This restriction would expire on July 1, 2025, unless renewed

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by the general assembly.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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