Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 22 - MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF MARINE RESOURCES › Part 13 - RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR AQUACULTURE IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI › Chapter 3 - Requirements Applicable to All Aquaculture Operations › Rule 22-13-3.1

Current through June 25, 2024
The following requirements shall apply to all types of
				  aquaculture activities in the marine waters of the State of Mississippi.
A. Aquaculture operations must not discharge
				any waste materials into the surrounding waters. For purposes of this section,
				waste materials include solids, debris, sanitary and kitchen wastes, oil, and
				grease; but exclude fouling organisms, the excrement of the cultured species,
				and commercially prepared feeds fed to them.
B. All aquaculture operations' structures
				must be properly marked and lighted in accordance with U.S. Coast Guard
				regulations. In order to minimize the impacts to sea turtles, the structure and
				any associated vessels moored adjacent to it shall use external lighting
				systems composed of low pressure sodium vapor lights with a maximum of 55 watts
				per bulb or any other light source proven and documented not to disturb sea
				turtles. Coast Guard required navigation lights are exempt from this
				guideline.
C. Generally, only
				non-lethal methods of predator control shall be allowed. However, invertebrates
				are exempt from this guideline. To ensure that the applicant has taken measures
				to prevent the deaths or harm of potential predators, a predator control plan
				that details the type of predator controls being proposed (i.e. mesh size of
				netting, color of netting, height of netting, etc.) for each aquaculture
				operation shall be approved by the MDMR prior to the issuance of a
				permit.
D. Aquaculture activities
				in State waters must be performed in a manner that would not cause substantial
				negative impacts to tidal marsh or coastal or marine habitats such as seagrass
				beds, naturally occurring oyster and clam beds, or endangered species such as
				sea turtles and Gulf Sturgeon.
E.
				All applicants shall provide the MDMR with a plan for securing or moving, if
				necessary, the aquaculture facility in the event of a significant storm or
				hurricane. The permitted facility shall comply with the approved storm plan in
				the event of a significant storm or hurricane. The aquaculture operation must
				maintain nets and moorings in a whole and intact condition. No gear may be
				abandoned. Any net or gear accidentally dropped or lost during storm events
				that is not recovered immediately shall be tagged with a float, positioned
				using differential Global Positioning System, and reported to the MDMR within
				24 hours. The lost net or gear must be recovered by the aquaculture operation
				within 30 days of the date lost. The aquaculture operation must notify the MDMR
				on the date the net or gear is recovered.
F. All moorings and cages must have attached
				a corrosion resistant metal or plastic tag. The tag must be legibly and
				permanently stamped with letters containing the leaseholder's full name. The
				minimum height of the letters must be at least 3/16 of an inch.
G. Nets, mooring and rigging lines, and
				anti-predator equipment must be stretched tight, held taut, and maintained in a
				manner to diminish the likelihood of entangling finfish, decapod crustaceans,
				sea birds, marine mammals, and sea turtles.
H. The aquaculture operation is responsible
				for collection and proper disposal of all equipment used in the aquaculture
				operation on submerged lands or when such materials are removed during
				harvesting or become dislodged during storm events.
I. All holding, transport, and culture
				systems of the aquaculture operation must be designed, operated and maintained
				to prevent the escape of cultured aquatic species into waters of the
				state.
J. The use of biocidal
				chemicals is prohibited unless approved by the MDMR prior to use.
K. All culture materials, cover nets, bags or
				other designated markers placed on or in the waters must be clean and free of
				pollutants including petroleum based products such as creosote, oils and
				greases, or other pollutants. Compounds used as preservatives must be used in
				accordance with the product label.
L. Aquaculture operations on Public Trust
				Tidelands (state-owned) must obtain an aquaculture lease or other authorization
				from the Secretary of State's office and remain current with annual fees and
				conditions of that authorization agreement. This section does not apply to
				on-bottom molluscan shellfish operations.
Miss. Code
				  Ann. §§49-15-15, 49-27-1, 79-22-1