• The National Shellfish Sanitation Program Model Ordinance (NSSP MO) requires operational plans for aquaculture sites culturing oyster seed in prohibited (or unclassified) waters and for aquaculture gear that may attract sufficient bird and/or mammal populations.
• Operational Plans must be approved by the DoAg prior to implementation and are a requirement of the permit and licensing process.

The DoAg has not currently permitted floating gear in Approved or Conditionally Approved shellfish growing areas in Connecticut, where shellfish are harvested for direct human consumption. However, other states have documented birds landing on and depositing large amounts of fecal matter on floating gear. Multiple Campylobacter outbreaks have been associated with floating gear in other New England states.

The operational plan provides a framework to use gear in Connecticut with controls that prevent public health risks from bird or mammal attraction, and without disrupting public use and navigation in Long Island Sound.