1. A. Operational Plan. Each land-based aquaculture facility shall have a written operational plan. The facility must obtain approval from the department prior to its implementation and shall include:

   1. 1. a description of the design and activities of the aquaculture facility;
   2. 2. the specific site and boundaries in which shellfish aquaculture activities will be conducted;
   3. 3. the types and locations of any structures, including rafts, pens, cages, nets, tanks, ponds, or floats which will be placed in the waters;
   4. 4. the genus and species of shellfish to be cultured and harvested;
   5. 5. procedures to assure that no poisonous or deleterious substances are introduced into the activities;
   6. 6. a program of sanitation, maintenance, and supervision to prevent contamination of the shellfish products;
   7. 7. a description of the water source, including the details of any water treatment process or method;
   8. 8. a program to maintain water quality, which includes collection of microbial water samples and their method of analysis and routine temperature and salinity monitoring (the bacterial indicator monitored shall be the same as used for monitoring natural growing areas);
   9. 9. if applicable, collection of data concerning the quality of food production (algae or other) used in the artificial harvest system; and
   10. 10. maintenance of the required records.

2. B. Each land-based facility conducting aquaculture as defined by Section 101 of this Part shall maintain the following records while the aquaculture activity continues:

   1. 1. construction and remodeling plans for any permitted aquaculture facility;
   2. 2. aquaculture operational plans; and
   3. 3. aquaculture permits.
3. C. Water Systems. If the land-based aquaculture system is of continuous flow through design, water from a growing area classified as approved, or in the open status of the conditionally approved classification at all times shellfish are held, may be used without treatment.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S.40:4.A.(1), R.S. 40:5.A.(2)(3)(5)(7)(9)(15)(17)(19)(20) and R.S. 40:5.3.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Health, Office of Public Health, LR 48:1856 (July 2022), repromulgated LR 48:2145 (August 2022).