Shellfish Area Classification Set

Shellfish Area Classification Set: The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection cooperated with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture to publish the Connecticut Shellfish Classification data. More recent information may be available from the Department of Agriculture since the time this information was originally published in 2007. For information or questions on shellfish area classifications contact the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture (DA/BA). Mailing address: P.O. Box 97, Milford, CT, 06460, USA. Voice: 203-874-0696. Fax: 203-783-9976. E-mail: dept.agriculture@snet.net. Final authority for the classification of any shellfish area rests with the DA/BA. One of a set of three 1:24,000-scale datalayers that represent the classifications of shellfish growing waters for the State of Connecticut shoreline towns. This datalayer is composed of polygon features. The shellfishing areas are delineated and classified by the DA/BA, which is the state shellfish control authority in Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) applied information from the DA/BA to the hydrography data to create digital data of shellfish area classifications. DA/BA reassesses pollution sources and shellfish growing areas annually. The digital data is current to that effective date or last amended date recorded on the assessment date list (see supplemental information). This data is subject to change and the DA/BA may have more recent information for some areas. DEP cooperated with the DA/BA to publish the DA/BA Shellfish Area Classifications data. More recent shellfish classification information may now be available from DA/BA since the time this information was originally published in 2007. The three classification datalayers are feature based. Waterbodies, such as rivers and lakes and ponds, that appear as area features in the hydrography datalayer are classified in the Shellfish Area polygon shapefile. Smaller water bodies, such as streams and creeks, that appear as line features in the hydrography datalayer are classified in the Shellfish Area line shapefile. A separate point shapefile contains the marinas that are classified by DA/BA. Contact DA/BA or local health departments for additional information regarding the classification of marinas and anchorage areas. Three additional datalayers add to the classification picture. Markers, such as buoys, demarcation signs and piers, are referred to in DA/BA text describing the shellfish area classifications. The town boundary lines as depicted on DA/BA oyster/shellfish ground charts extend to the Connecticut/New York mid-Long Island Sound boundary line. The jurisdiction line on the charts indicates the boundary between state and town jurisdictional control over shellfish grounds. The jurisdiction line is separate from the shellfishing area classifications The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection cooperated with the Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture to publish the Connecticut Shellfish Classification data. More recent information may be available from the Department of Agriculture since the time this information was originally published in 2006. For information or questions on shellfish area classifications contact the Connecticut Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Aquaculture (DA/BA). Mailing address: P.O. Box 97, Milford, CT, 06460, USA. Voice: 203-874-0696. Fax: 203-783-9976. E-mail: dept.agriculture@snet.net. Final authority for the classification of any shellfish area rests with the DA/BA. This 1:24,000 scale layer depicts town boundary lines as shown on DA/BA oyster/shellfish ground charts. These boundary lines extend to the Connecticut/New York mid-Long Island Sound boundary line. This datalayer is composed of polygon features. See also the corresponding line feature class (Shellfish Area Town Line). This layer is intended to be used for cartographic purposes in conjunction with the 1:24,000 scale Shellfish Area Classifications data that represent the classifications of shellfish growing waters for the State of Connecticut shoreline towns. Shellfish Bed Jurisdiction is a related datalayer that depicts the jurisdiction line on the charts, i.e., the boundary between state and town jurisdictional control over shellfish grounds. It is referenced here to clarify that in some cases the town boundary lines of the Shellfish Area Town Poly layer and the Shellfish Bed Jurisdiction layer are different and are so noted. General Information Applicable to Shellfish Classifications Datalayers: The shellfishing areas are delineated and classified by the DA/BA, which is the state shellfish control authority in Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) applied information from the DA/BA to the hydrography data to create digital data of shellfish area classifications. DA/BA reassesses pollution sources and shellfish growing areas annually. The digital data is current to that effective date or last amended date recorded on the assessment date list (see supplemental information). This data is subject to change and the DA/BA may have more recent information for some areas. The shellfish datalayers that can be used together as a group include Shellfish Area Classification Line, Shellfish Area Classification Poly, Shellfish Area Marina, Shellfish Area Marker, Shellfish Area Town Poly, Shellfish Area Town Line, Shellfish Bed Jurisdiction, and Connecticut Managed Shellfish Beds.