4. There is established in the Department of Agriculture the Office of Aquaculture Coordination. The office shall, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, prepare a guidebook explaining the permit process for receiving all necessary permits or other approvals or exemptions to engage in an aquaculture project in the State. The guidebook shall include a list that identifies the permits or other approvals that may be necessary for an aquaculture project. The list shall identify the application form or forms required for an application to be deemed complete, any documents or other written submissions required to be filed with the application, and any filing, notice, hearing or other requirement that is a precondition for review of an application. The guidebook shall also describe management practices for aquaculture. The guidebook shall be updated as often as necessary. The office shall serve as a resource for applicants and prospective applicants for aquaculture projects.

The office shall establish, in cooperation with other permitting agencies, a permit coordination system whose purpose is to assist the applicant in the completion of the application and to assist in processing the application. The goal of the system shall be the processing of applications within 90 days of their completion, and at a reasonable application cost consistent with the goals and objectives of this act.

The office shall develop a protocol for authorizing an individual to engage in an aquaculture demonstration project.

L.1997,c.236,s.4.