As the shellfish aquaculture industry grows and states seek to encourage the expansion of the industry, multiple legal conflicts can arise. In an effort to understand potential legal impediments, the Law Center and four members of the Sea Grant Legal network authored seven case studies of national and state-specific legal barriers to shellfish aquaculture across the United States. Even before the report’s publication in 2019, the case studies had already informed policy changes to reduce permitting barriers: California and Georgia both took action after discussions during the development of their state-specific case studies.

Lost derelict fishing gear can damage ecosystems, threaten navigational safety, damage active fishing equipment and boats, and cause economic repercussions for coastal industries and communities across the country. While there are laws and regulations that govern the removal of derelict fishing gear, they vary by fishery and state. The Law Center and the Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program analyzed relevant laws from 11 priority states and drafted legal case studies of six marine debris removal programs. They published two research reports that lead to the addition of a new priority action in the Gulf of Maine Marine Debris Action Plan – “incorporate gear avoidance into boater education.” – to improve safety and reduce damage and costs to both commercial and recreational vessels.

Boats transported between multiple locations by trailer are one of the primary pathways for the spread of aquatic invasive species. Inconsistency, overlaps, and gaps between neighboring states’ legal policies for preventing the spread of invasive species can hinder prevention and enforcement efforts. The Law Center and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies analyzed state laws and regulations aimed at preventing the spread of invasive species and developed a report of model regulations (“Model Regulation for State Watercraft Inspection and Decontamination Programs”). In 2017, the Law Center compared each state’s watercraft inspection and decontamination laws and regulations to the report. Twelve states and the Tahoe Regional Planning Commission made improvements based on the comparison.