New Jersey § 4:27-5

§ 4:27-5.

a. There is established in the Department of Agriculture an Aquaculture Advisory Council

which shall consist of 13 voting and two non-voting members. The voting members shall include the Secretary of Agriculture, who shall serve as

chairman, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, the Commissioner of Commerce

and Economic Development, the Commissioner of Health, the director of the Aquaculture

Technology Transfer Center, the director of the Aquaculture Training and Information

Center, the executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station,

or their designees, who shall serve ex officio, and six citizens of the State, to

be appointed as follows: two by the President of the Senate, one of whom shall be

a representative from recognized aquaculture organizations or an operator of an aquaculture

farm and one of whom shall be a representative of the seafood industry; two by the

Speaker of the General Assembly, one of whom shall be a representative of recognized

aquaculture organizations or an operator of an aquaculture farm and one of whom shall

be a representative of farmers; and two by the Governor from the public at large.

The chairman of the Marine Fisheries Council and the chairman of the Fish and Game

Council shall serve ex officio and as non-voting members. b. The term of office of each public member shall be three years; except that of

the first members to be appointed, one appointed by the Governor, one by the President

of the Senate and one by the Speaker of the General Assembly shall be appointed for

a term of two years, and the remaining two members shall be appointed for a term of

three years. Each member shall serve until a successor has been appointed and qualified, and

vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments for the

remainder of the unexpired term. A member is eligible for reappointment to the council. c. A majority of the membership of the advisory council shall constitute a quorum

for the transaction of advisory council business. d. Members of the advisory council shall serve without compensation, but shall be

entitled to reimbursement for expenses incurred in attendance at meetings to the extent

funds are available therefor. e. The advisory council shall act in an advisory capacity to the department and other

State agencies on aquaculture matters. The advisory council shall assist the various departments in the evaluation of proposed

and existing rules and regulations and the development of policies mandated by provisions

of this act. The advisory council shall seek to ensure that aquaculture market development activities

and policies reflect the changing needs and characteristics of the aquaculture industry. The advisory council shall review the Aquaculture Development Plan and update the

plan as appropriate, but no less frequently than every five years.