Aquaculture Permitting

Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Permit and Registration Cards

As a shellfish aquaculture leaseholder, you are responsible to complete and return your Application for Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Permit and Registration Cards to the department. You should have received a Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Permit/Registration Cards Frequently Asked Questions form with your Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Permit packet.

Permitees will receive both a Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Permit and a Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Registration Card. Registrants will be issued a Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Registration Card only. All individuals conducting aquaculture activities on the lease including permittees must have a Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Registration Card on their person at all times. The department will mail all permits, registration cards, monthly report forms and reporting instructions to the primary leaseholder/permittee. That individual will then be responsible for distributing other permittee and registrant cards as appropriate.

Please note that if NO permittees or registrants are on file with the department, NO ONE will have authorization to conduct aquaculture activities on the lease. If this is the case, the commercial usage requirements could not be met and the lease may be terminated. Additionally, anyone who works the lease without proper permits or cards is subject to citations.


Aquaculture Declaration and DNR ID

In order to securely and effectively comply with the current legal and regulatory requirements, each Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Permittee and Registrant must obtain an Aquaculture Declaration and DNR ID prior to being issued a Shellfish Aquaculture Harvester Permit or Registration Card. Please​read this momorandum​ for instructions and more information.


Frequently Asked Questions