1. 2.

2. a. A shellfish aquaculturist who engages in structural aquaculture shall be exempt from the restriction on the collecting and catching of shellfish on Sunday, established pursuant to R.S.50:2-11, provided that the taking of shellfish on Sunday:

   1. (1) does not occur before sunrise or after sunset;
   2. (2) occurs only on leased aquaculture lands; and
   3. (3) is done only for commercial purposes, as part of a structural aquaculture operation, in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations pertaining to the harvest of shellfish, including, but not limited to, those rules and regulations that are adopted pursuant to R.S.50:2-11.
3. b. As used in this section: "Commercial purposes" means that the taking of shellfish is done for the purposes of commercial sale and not for other purposes, such as trade, barter, or personal consumption. "Shellfish aquaculturist" means a person or entity that holds a valid commercial shellfish aquaculture permit and is directly engaged in shellfish aquaculture, which is a commercial activity that includes the breeding, raising, harvesting, stocking, feeding, transplanting, and protecting of shellfish, and the subsequent marketing, processing, and packaging of shellfish in controlled environments for commercial purposes. "Structural aquaculture" means a type of shellfish aquaculture pursuant to which a shellfish aquaculturist uses one or more structures or structural systems to containerize shellfish, including, but not limited to, rack and bag structure systems, bottom cage systems, suspended or floating structure systems, or floating upweller or other nursery structure systems, to facilitate or manipulate the growth, appearance, or marketability of oysters or other shellfish being cultured for commercial purposes.

L.2023, c.137, s.2.