In the event that any shellfish, shellfish product or whole scallop in any establishment is embargoed, condemned or ordered destroyed, the commissioner, or the commissioner's agent, shall, as soon thereafter as practical, notify the owner in writing of the amount and kind of shellfish, shellfish product or whole scallop embargoed, condemned or destroyed.

7. Resident depuration harvesters. When harvesting soft- shelled clams under a depuration certificate, the person holding the certificate shall, to the extent possible, employ one person who is a resident of the municipality as harvester for every person employed as harvester who is not a resident of that municipality.

8. Payments to municipalities. A person holding a depuration certificate shall pay each municipality an amount equal to 50¢ for each bushel of soft-shelled clams taken in that municipality under that depuration certificate. When submitting payment to a municipality under this subsection, the depuration certificate holder shall include a copy of the applicable record and report of takings submitted to the department pursuant to rules adopted under subsection 4.

SUMMARY

This bill makes changes to the laws relating to marine resources including the following.

1. It corrects a reference to a federal agency.

2. It eliminates a reference to shrimp in the laws relating to emerging fisheries.

3. It clarifies that the violation of a rule adopted by the Commissioner of Marine Resources is a civil violation for which a fine of not less than $100 may be adjudged.

4. It corrects an inconsistency with regard to the processing of scallops. It clarifies that scallop harvesters may process, possess, ship, transport or sell only shucked scallops. It requires that a person, except a person authorized by either of the scallop harvester licenses who processes, possesses, buys,