TRAINING

• Foundations of Shellfish Farming Course (Click to learn more and register) This training course for new and prospective farmers and those who simply seek to learn more about aquaculture practices and techniques. This course meets the Connecticut Department of Agriculture eligibility requirement for the submission of a Joint Agency Application for Marine Aquaculture.
• Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP)  (Click to learn more and register) All aquaculture operations are required to have someone trained in seafood sanitation, and specifically to learn how to develop a HACCP plan. The Connecticut Sea Grant program offers this course in the spring and fall. Plan early as courses do fill up quickly.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

• ELAP is a free crop disaster assistance program pays you 70-90% of the value of your crop losses caused by weather-related disasters.
• NAP low-cost crop disaster assistance program that covers weather related losses not covered under ELAP.
• Farm Credit East (farm loans and business planning)
• Connecticut Department of Community & Economic Development
  • Women owned business resources
  • Minority Business Revolving Loan Fund (MBRLF) (a joint product of the DECD and the Spanish American Merchants Association and Black Business Alliance and HEDCO, Inc.)
• Small Business Administration - CT District Office (loans and business planning resources)
  • Women owned business resources
  • Minority owned business resources

GRANTS

• Connecticut Agriculture Business Assistance (see "Farm Viability" and "Farm Transition" Grants)
• Connecticut Sea Grant Development Grants (proof of concept awards; up to $5K)
• Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Grants (various types of farm-based awards)
• Guide to Federal Aquaculture Grant and Financial Assistance

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

• Northeast Aquaculture Management Guide NRAC Manual
• Shellfish Best Management Practices  (User can develop a BMP based on template!) ECSGA
• Planning for Success in Your Aquaculture Business NRAC 101-2008
• The Cultivation of Eastern Oysters SRAC 0432
• Oyster Hatchery Techniques SRAC 4302
• Biology and Culture of the Hard Clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) SRAC 0433
• Hard Clam Hatchery and Nursery Production SRAC 4301
• Softshell Clam Culture:  Basic Biology and General Culture Considerations NRAC 201-2010
• Softshell Clams Culture:  Nursery and Growout Phases through Harvest NRAC 203-2010
• Softshell Clam Culture:  Hatchery Phase, Broodstock Care through Seed Production NRAC 202-2010
• Biology of the Bay Scallop NRAC 213-2010
• Hatchery Culture of t he Bay Scallop NRAC 214-2010
• Nursery Culture of the Bay Scallop NRAC 215-2010
• Grow-out Culture of the Bay Scallop NRAC 216-2010
• Grow-out Methods for Petite Surf Clams WHOI Sea Grant
• Cultured Mussels of the Northeast NRAC 210-2010
• Mussel Aquaculture in the Northeast NRAC 211-2010
• Biology of the Atlantic Jacknife (Razor) Clam (Ensis directus)  NRAC 217-2010
• Growing Microalgae to Feed Bivalve Larvae NRAC 160-1993
• Dead and Dying Shellfish:  What to Do? NRAC 220-2010
• Major Predators of Cultured Shellfish NRAC 180-1993
• History and Impact of MSX and Dermo Diseases on Oyster Stocks in the Northeast Region NRAC 200-1993
• Cross-Breeding for Improved Growth and Disease Resistance in Eastern Oysters NRAC 206-2010
• Environmental Effects of Shellfish Aquaculture in the Northeast NRAC 105-2008

PUBLIC OUTREACH TOOLS

(Download for free or contact tessa.getchis@uconn.edu if you would like printed posters or vinyl displays)

• Shellfish Infographic
• Seaweed Infographic

REGULATORY INFORMATION

1. There are three main steps that comprise the regulatory process for marine aquaculture, including:
2. Permission to use the space; involves:
   • Issuing an agreement called a lease or license
3. Permission to place gear or structures; involves:
   • Required for use of fixed gear such as bags, cages, longlines, upwellers, etc.
   • Review for Potential Impacts to Significant Human Uses
   • Review for Potential Impacts to Protected Species and Habitats
4. Business Operations Authorization; involves:
   • Shellfish Sanitation Training
   • Facility and Vessel Inspection
   • Shellfish Sales Licensing

APPLICATION FORMS

• Required forms - Permission to use space
• Required forms - Permission to use gear systems
• Required forms - Production licenses allowing sales of aquaculture products

SITE SELECTION TOOLS

• Aquaculture Mapping Atlas is an online map viewer that allows users to view, overlay and print maps containing human use, habitats and species, environmental and shellfish-related data
• Guide to Permitting Marine Aquaculture is a comprehensive guide available to help applicants navigate the regulatory process
• Eelgrass Survey Guidance (version August 2016)
• Shellfish Direct Sales Guidance (version April 2020)

AUTHORITIES

STATE AQUACULTURE PERMITTING WORKGROUP

This group includes state and federal regulators who authorize sites and gear for aquaculture activity. These agencies also collaborate to regulate activities such as habitat (oyster, eelgrass) restoration. The group meets quarterly to discuss aquaculture applications and emerging policy and research issues, and to develop and update regulatory guidance and tools for prospective farmers and researchers interested in aquaculture applications.  State/federal agency contacts, as well as town shellfish commissions are below under the "authorities" tab. Sea Grant serves as the chair of this group. For questions, contact Tessa Getchis.

CT Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture (Lead Agency)

• David Carey*| (203) 874-0696 | The director of the CT DA/BA serves as the State Aquaculture Coordinator and is the liaison for all aquaculture activity and interacts with all other local, state, and federal regulatory authorities
• Alissa Dragan
• Matthew Bartell

CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

• Sue Jacobson* | Permitting Coordinator
• Yolanda Cooley | Boating Safety Division
• Bruce Williams | Fisheries Division

US Army Corps of Engineers

• Cori M. Rose* | Permitting Coordinator
• Andrea Williams

Town Shellfish Commissions

• Click here for individual town contacts