00Enrolled HB 60                                                                                                          
01 Relating to aquatic farm permitting involving geoducks and to geoduck seed transfers                                    
02 between certified hatcheries and aquatic farms.                                                                         
03                           _______________                                                                               
04    * Section 1. AS 16.40.100 is amended by adding a new subsection to read:                                           
05            (g)  The commissioner may not use the absence of wild geoduck stock within a                                 
06       management area described in AS 16.40.145 as the reason for denial of an aquatic                                  
07       farm permit under this section. If, under this section, the commissioner issues a permit                          
08       for an aquatic farm to culture geoducks in a management area that does not have wild                              
09       geoduck stocks when the permit is issued, the permit may not allow operations for that                            
10       purpose in the intertidal habitat or environment.                                                                 
11    * Sec. 2. AS 16.40 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                     
12            Sec. 16.40.145. Geoduck seed transfer between a certified hatchery and an                                  
13       aquatic farm. Consistent with AS 16.40.140(b) - (d), a hatchery certified under                                 
14       AS 16.40.100 may transfer geoduck seed to an aquatic farm located in a fisheries                                  

01       management area established under this title that is contiguous to the Gulf of Alaska.