15100-15105
FISH AND GAME CODE
SECTION 15100-15105
15100. There is within the department an aquaculture coordinator who shall perform all of the following duties: (a) Promote understanding of aquaculture among public agencies and the general public. (b) Propose methods of reducing the negative impact of public regulation at all levels of government on the aquaculture industry. (c) Provide information on all aspects of regulatory compliance to the various sectors of the aquaculture industry. (d) Provide such advice to aquaculturists on project siting and facility design that may be needed to comply with regulatory requirements. 15101. (a) The owner of each aquaculture facility shall register all of the following information with the department by March 1 of each year: (1) The owner's name. (2) The species grown. (3) The location or locations of each operation or operations. (b) The department may provide registration forms for this purpose, may establish a procedure for the review of the information provided to ensure that the operation will not be detrimental to native wildlife, and shall impose a registration fee of five hundred forty-nine dollars ($549) to recover the cost of reviewing new registrations. For renewing registrations, the department shall impose a registration fee of two hundred seventy-five dollars ($275). It is unlawful to conduct aquaculture operations or to culture approved species of aquatic plants and animals unless registered under this section. The registration fees specified in this section are applicable to the 2004 registration year and shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713. (c) The annual registration of information required by subdivision (b) is not a project for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000) of the Public Resources Code). 15102. The department may prohibit an aquaculture operation or the culturing of any species at any location where it is determined it would be detrimental to adjacent native wildlife. 15103. (a) In addition to the fees specified in Section 15101, a surcharge fee of four hundred twelve dollars ($412) shall be paid at the time of registration by the owner of an aquaculture facility if the gross annual sales of aquaculture products of the facility during the prior calendar year exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000). (b) Each registered aquaculturist shall maintain sales and production records which shall be made available upon request of the department to assist the department in the administration of this chapter. (c) Any person who fails to pay the surcharge fee required in this section at the time of registration shall be assessed a delinquency penalty pursuant to Section 15104. (d) The surcharge imposed pursuant to this section shall be applicable to the 2004 registration year and shall be adjusted annually thereafter pursuant to Section 713. 15104. (a) If any person engages in the business of aquaculture, as regulated under this division, without having paid the registration fee or surcharge fee within one calendar month of the commencement of business, or, for renewal of registration, on or before April 1 of the registration year, the fees are delinquent. (b) A penalty shall be paid at the time of registration for any fees that are delinquent in the amount of fifty dollars ($50). (c) The penalty imposed pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be applicable to the 2005 registration year, and shall be adjusted thereafter pursuant to Section 713. 15105. (a) Notwithstanding Section 13001 or 13002, all moneys collected by the department pursuant to this division shall be deposited in the Fish and Game Preservation Fund and shall be expended solely on the department's aquaculture program pursuant to this division. (b) Notwithstanding Section 13004, these moneys are available for appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act for purposes of this division. (c) The department shall maintain internal accountability necessary to ensure that all restrictions on the expenditure of these funds are met.