MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1997 Regular Session

To: Agriculture

By: Senator(s) Stogner, Thames

AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 79-22-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE FEE CHARGED TO NONRESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI FOR AQUACULTURE CULTIVATION AND MARKETING PERMITS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. Section 79-22-9, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

79-22-9. (1) An aquaculturist shall obtain a cultivation and marketing permit for cultured aquatic products produced from the following aquatic plants and animals:

(a) All non-native aquatic plants and animals, including those that are well established in limited or extensive areas of natural lakes, rivers and streams in this state;

(b) Fish classified as game fish in Mississippi; however, the department shall not issue any such permits for the following game fish: black bass, bream, crappie, flathead catfish, walleye and all members of the family Centrarchidae and Percidae;

(c) Endangered, threatened or protected species;

(d) Any aquatic plants or animals which have been genetically modified or are to be genetically modified by means other than breeding and crossbreeding.

(2) The department shall not issue the permits required in this section until the department approves the proposed aquaculture facility design or the actual facility and such permits shall only be issued to citizens of the United States. The department shall inspect the aquaculture facility prior to the introduction of the aquatic products to be cultured to insure compliance with the approved permit specifications. The department may also conduct periodic inspections of all facilities engaged in the propagation of non-native species to insure that operational activities comply with approved permit specifications. All required permits shall be renewed annually. The fee for a marketing or cultivation permit shall not exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) for each permit issued to a resident of Mississippi. The fee for a marketing or cultivation permit issued to a nonresident of Mississippi shall equal the amount imposed by the nonresident's state for such permit on a resident of Mississippi.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1997.