§ 79-22-1. Short title
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Mississippi Aquaculture Act of 1988.
§ 79-22-11. Withholding permit
By withholding a culture and/or marketing permit, the department may prohibit the aquaculturing of any species at any location if the department determines it would be detrimental to the public interest and presents its determination in writing with supporting justification.
§ 79-22-13. Nonrenewal of permit
Failure by an aquaculturist to provide any information required by the department to verify that cultured aquatic products are produced under controlled aquacultural conditions and are not harvested from native wild stock shall result in nonrenewal, suspension or cancellation of the permit. The department is authorized, subject to the requirements set forth in the Mississippi […]
§ 79-22-15. Issuance of permits for taking of game fish for brood stock; promulgation of regulations; issuance of cultivation and marketing permits; inspections
The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may issue permits to obtain game fish for use as brood stock in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks. In promulgating these regulations for game fish used for brood stock, the Commission on Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks may specify that a permittee: […]
§ 79-22-17. Building requirements
The department shall issue a cultivation permit for any aquaculture facility located, in whole or in part, in the Mississippi Sound, the Gulf of Mexico, or bays or estuaries thereof at such time that such facility complies with all state and federal requirements to protect marine resources.
§ 79-22-21.
Editor’s Notes – Former § 79-22-19 related to one-stop permitting for aquaculture activities. Former § 79-22-21 related to the compliance of aquacultural operations with applicable regulations from the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Health.
§ 79-22-23. Leasing waters; aquaculture lease management program
The Secretary of State, upon recommendation of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality may lease waters as provided by Section 29-1-107, Mississippi Code of 1972, within the jurisdiction of the state to a person for aquaculture or the production of aquatic products. The Department of Marine Resources is […]
§ 79-22-25. Management plan to be developed; Aquatic Ventures Center
The department may, as funds are made available by the Legislature, develop an Aquatic Ventures Center. The center may develop but shall not be limited to the following activities: Plan and conduct a program promoting cultured aquatic products and associated technologies, including demonstration, training and technical assistance; Disseminate information about the technologies and species suitable […]
§ 79-22-27. Order to stop sale or distribution of product found in violation of chapter
The Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce is authorized, in his discretion, to issue an order to stop the sale or distribution of any product found to be in violation of this chapter. Any order to stop the sale of any product regulated under the provisions of this chapter may be appealed to the Chancery Court […]
§ 79-22-29. Penalties
Any person violating this chapter or any regulation of the department issued under this chapter shall be subject to a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for each violation nor less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). In the case of a violation involving the marketing of non-cultured game fish, each fish […]
§ 79-22-3. Legislative purpose
The Legislature recognizes that aquaculture is the fastest growing segment of the United States agriculture industry and declares that it is the intent of this legislation to effectively encourage and support United States citizens in expanded and new growth of aquaculture in this state while conserving and enhancing aquatic resources and providing mechanisms for increasing […]
§ 79-22-31. Application to state educational institutions
State educational institutions shall be subject to the above regulations but shall be exempt from fees.
§ 79-22-33. Application to catfish farming industry
This chapter shall not apply to the catfish farming industry and the provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to regulate the growing, farming, harvesting, processing and sale of catfish or catfish products which are harvested from privately owned ponds and have been fed commercially prepared feed and have been subject to a quality […]
§ 79-22-35. Tilapia products; labeling; penalties
No tilapia products shall be offered for direct sale for human consumption by a processor, distributor or retailer unless the tilapia product name is specifically labeled in the following manner: “FARM-RAISED TILAPIA,” if the product has been produced under the authority of a permit issued in accordance with the Mississippi Aquaculture Act of 1988; or […]
§ 79-22-5. Definitions
For the purpose of this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise: “Aquaculture” means any form of agriculture that includes the process of growing, farming, cultivating and/or harvesting cultured aquatic products in marine or freshwaters and includes management by an aquaculturist. “Aquaculturist” is a person who is engaged in the cultivating of cultured aquatic products. […]
§ 79-22-7. Marketing permit, generally
All currently recognized native aquatic plants, animals and nongame fish may be freely produced and marketed by an aquaculturist unless specifically regulated elsewhere. If a marketing permit is needed to aid in selling such cultured aquatic products in other states or countries, then the department shall issue such a permit when requested by an aquaculturist.
§ 79-22-9. Cultivation and marketing permit necessary for certain aquatic products; requirements for issuance of permit
An aquaculturist shall obtain a cultivation and marketing permit for cultured aquatic products produced from the following aquatic plants and animals: All nonnative aquatic plants and animals, including those that are well established in limited or extensive areas of natural lakes, rivers and streams in this state; Fish classified as game fish in Mississippi; however, […]