Seaweed Aquaculture 

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture Bureau of Aquaculture is responsible for classifying shellfish growing areas and issuing aquaculture licenses, including seaweed aquaculture licenses. Seaweed producers must cultivate seaweed in Approved or Conditionally Approved areas, as classified by the Bureau of Aquaculture. Prospective producers can identify Approved or Conditionally Approved areas on the Aquaculture Mapping Atlas. 

Any individual or company that wants to grow seaweed for any purpose must complete the Joint Agency Application to Conduct Marine Aquaculture in Connecticut and have a Seaweed Producer license from the Bureau of Aquaculture prior to deploying any gear. Matthew.Bartell@ct.gov assists applicants through the aquaculture permitting process. Any individual or company that wants to process seaweed for food (freeze, dry, blanch, etc.) must also have approval from the Department of Consumer Protection. Please see the appropriate links below.

All Seaweed Producer licenses must be completed using www.elicense.ct.gov. A step-by-step user guide is available for download.

State statutes previously required the DoAG to issue Aquaculture Certificates, but this language was replaced with "license;" therefore, the DoAG is no longer issuing Aquaculture Certificates. 

 

Prior to deploying aquaculture gear, all producers must have completed the Joint Agency Application to Conduct Marine Aquaculture in Connecticut and receive approval from all agencies. Connecticut has led the nation in developing seaweed sanitation guidelines. See the Seaweed Production and Processing Hazards guide for additional information. All producers must comply with required pre-market testing. Producers must also comply with the Seaweed Producer Recordkeeping Requirements. 

Any seaweed producer intending to process seaweed (e.g. freeze, dry, blanch) must have the appropriate license from the Bureau of Aquaculture, complete the required facility inspections, and comply with Consumer Protection Standards, prior to processing seaweed. Contact the Connecticut Food and Standards Division (dcp.foodandstandards@ct.gov) for additional information on the Consumer Protection requirements.

Connecticut SeaGrant provides Seaweed Outreach and Extension Activities.