



This document is intended as a reference for federal agencies who are involved in the permitting process for commercial shellfish aquaculture.
The initial start-up of a commercial shellfish aquaculture farm in the United States is subject to multiple regulatory requirements under federal, state, tribal, and local authorities.
In addition to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit under the Rivers and Harbors Act (Section 10) and the Clean Water Act (Section 404), a commercial shellfish aquaculture farm must obtain all other required permits from the appropriate federal, state, local, or tribal authority.
Examples include leases and permits from state agencies and permits from other federal agencies under these and other statutes:
This fact sheet provides information about permits issued by the Corps for commercial shellfish aquaculture. Once in place, a Corps General Permit provides a simplified alternative to an individual Corps permit for eligible commercial shellfish aquaculture farms.
Although a commercial shellfish farm must meet additional federal, state, local, and tribal requirements, the General Permit provides a streamlined approach to fulfilling the main regulatory requirements under federal laws and regulations.
This fact sheet was developed primarily as a reference for federal agencies involved in the permitting process and focuses on the General Permit procedural issues related to Endangered Species Act and Essential Fish Habitat compliance.