Massachusetts § 1C - Division of marine fisheries shellfish advisory panel

§ 1C. Division of marine fisheries shellfish advisory panel

Section 1C. There shall be established in the division of marine fisheries a shellfish advisory panel to: (i) advise the director on matters of concern relevant to shellfish fisheries; (ii) provide a forum for governmental entities to receive and disseminate information relevant to shellfish resources and shellfish management; and (iii) allow members of the public and representatives of governmental entities to bring forth emerging issues in shellfish fisheries.

The shellfish advisory panel shall consist of: the director or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the commissioner of agricultural resources or a designee; the commissioner of environmental protection or a designee; the director of the food protection program within the department of public health or a designee; the director of coastal zone management or a designee; the executive director of the commission on Indian affairs or a designee; the chairs of the joint committee on agriculture or their designees; and 14 persons to be appointed by the chair, 1 of whom shall be a representative of the National Sea Grant College Program in the commonwealth, 2 of whom shall be holders of valid seafood dealer permits and be involved in the wholesale or retail sale of shellfish, 1 of whom shall be a holder of a valid Massachusetts commercial fishing permit and be involved in a Massachusetts-managed wild harvest shellfish fishery, 2 of whom shall be holders of valid state and municipal commercial shellfish permits and be involved with wild harvest of municipally-managed shellfish, 3 of whom shall be holders of both a valid Massachusetts aquaculture permit and a municipal site license for the commercial production of shellfish, 1 of whom shall be a holder of a valid recreational shellfish permit in a municipality in the commonwealth and be involved with the recreational harvest of shellfish, 2 of whom shall be current municipal shellfish constables nominated by the Massachusetts Shellfish Officers Association, 1 of whom shall be a member of the marine fisheries advisory commission and 1 of whom shall be a representative from a nongovernmental organization involved with shellfish conservation. Members appointed by the chair shall reflect diverse coastal geographic distribution and stakeholder representation.

Members appointed by the chair shall serve for terms of 3 years and may be eligible for re-appointment by the chair. Members of panel shall serve without compensation. The panel shall meet not less than 2 times annually to address issues of substance related to shellfish resources, fisheries and management and assist in the dissemination of information to stakeholders. The chair shall consider the input of the panel.