CA AB3220

Department of Fish and Wildlife must consider and investigate seeking state verification authority from the United States Army Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies to streamline federal permit review for mariculture projects operating in California.

If the department pursues state verification authority, it must immediately notify the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife and Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Water, provide annual updates while seeking the authority, and notify both committees when obtained or if the effort is discontinued.

Department must publicly disclose on its website the personnel hours expended, all costs incurred, and funding sources for obtaining state verification authority when providing annual updates or final notifications.

Department shall increase aquaculture facility registration fees by an unspecified amount until the cost of obtaining state verification authority is fully recovered from aquaculture registrants that benefit from the authority.

Defines "mariculture" as the propagation, cultivation, maintenance, and harvesting of aquatic plants and animals in marine waters, excluding finfish and ornamental marine species in closed systems maintained for personal, pet industry, or hobby purposes.