Aquaculture is the business of farming aquatic plants and animals.
It includes operations such as growing shellfish on underwater leases in Long Island Sound to raising trout or hybrid striped bass in inland freshwater tank farms. During the next decade, aquaculture is expected to be among the top ten growth industries in the United States. Currently, aquaculture is the nation's fastest growing agricultural business. Connecticut leads the northeast in aquaculture production by virtue of its oyster industry. This legislation established the Department of Agriculture as the State's lead agency for aquaculture regulation, development and coordination.