GOAL:
Conserve Connecticut's shellfish and enhance the commercial and recreational harvest.

OBJECTIVE:
Protect, improve and increase habitat resources as well as provide for a sustained yield of shellfish.

STATUS & TRENDS:
Many of the State's once-thriving shellfish beds have been closed because of various sources of pollution along the coastal areas. In addition, shellfish habitat is being lost as a result of coastal dredging and siltation from activities in upland devel opment areas. As a result of this degradation of shellfish habitat and resources, there is an increasing risk to human health, a loss of recreational shellfishing, and diminished commercial harvesting. Other problems include the absence of shellfish bas e and spawning stock for the State's valuable oyster beds, absence of a program to enable closed shellfish areas to be reopened, a lack of uniformity in jurisdiction and regulatory authority by local enforcement, and limited enforcement efforts which resu lts in over harvesting and taking of shellfish from polluted waters.

STRATEGIES:

1. Develop and implement a program to reclaim, maintain, and improve shellfish beds and habitats.
2. Implement pollution abatement which will allow reopening of those shellfishing areas presently closed.
3. Increase shellfish enforcement capabilities, in part by increasing fines and strengthening related environmental laws, as well as coordinating and working with town officials relative to shellfish law enforcement and related problems.
4. Evaluate and improve the procedure used to open and close shellfish beds.
5. Increase State and local revenue derived from shellfish and aquaculture harvesting and allocate such funds for improved management methods.
6. Resolve State and municipal conflicts over management methods.
7. Develop a comprehensive marketing study to analyze the present size of the shellfish and aquaculture industry and its growth potential.
8. Develop techniques and standards for evaluating and promoting the coexistence of shellfish and boating uses and facilities.
9. Coordinate with the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture Division, to develop shellfish sanitation guidelines and public information regarding shellfish consumption.