The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (DOAG) Bureau of Aquaculture manages license applications and renewals for the Shellstock Shipper I license. Get more information on how to apply for the Shellstock Shipper I license, including requirements, application, regulations, and more below.
License information
This license is required for operations that grow, harvest for market from “Approved or Conditionally Approved Open Areas only,” buy, or sell shellstock.
They do not authorize operations to shuck shellfish or to repack shucked shellfish.
This license is used for either long term relay-transplant operations (including a minimum six months or greater for seed oysters from Prohibited areas) or short term relay operations (including a minimum of 14 days or greater with a water temperature of >50o F) where the shellfish (oysters, clams and mussels) originated from areas classified as Restricted-Relay or better. The shellfish may be re-harvested for market when the specified time/temperature requirements have been met and satisfactory verification studies have been completed or meat sample analysis has been completed and the appropriate shellstock shipper license has been applied for and received.
All harvesters must submit a Relay Link for each vessel every day they work. They must also have an operational Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) on all boats. The licensee must immediately report any vessel with a non-operational VMS unit to DoAG. DoAG may revoke the license of any individual or boat that does not comply with the VMS requirement.
The full list of regulations is outlined in the Shellstock Shipper I License Application.
Application
Shellstock Shipper I license application (PDF, updated June 5, 2024)
- The short version of the application has been discontinued.
