CT HB05085

Allows the Commissioner of Agriculture to deny renewal of shellfish ground leases if the lessee is in default on rent payments or is a principal/corporate officer of a business entity that holds a lease in default, with thirty days' advance notice required.

Expands shellfish theft and enclosure violation statutes to apply to all shellfish species rather than oysters only, maintaining existing penalties of up to $300 fine or one year imprisonment for daytime theft and up to $500 fine or one year imprisonment for nighttime theft.

Adds a new violation requiring persons to initiate voluntary or mandated recalls of shellfish products in accordance with 21 CFR 7 Recall Enforcement Policy, with penalties of $1,000 or three times market value of shellfish involved (whichever is greater) or up to one year imprisonment.

Reduces minimum size requirement for eastern oysters from three inches to two and three-quarters inches long, while allowing up to five percent of any harvest to consist of oysters between two and one-half and two and three-quarters inches long.

All sections become effective upon passage of the act.