§ 13-0705. Departmental responsibilities.

1. The department shall designate seagrass management areas.
Designation of such areas shall include consideration, on a geographic
or estuarine basis, of likely threats to seagrass.

2. For each designated seagrass management area, the department shall
develop and adopt a seagrass management plan to guide the development of
rules and regulations pursuant to subdivision three of this section.
Such plan shall be developed after consultation with local governments,
representatives of recreational boating interests, the marine industries
(including commercial and recreational shell fishermen, and commercial
shell fish farmers), affected property owners, and other stakeholders,
so as to effectively manage and protect seagrass beds and seagrass
restoration efforts at those locations at which the restoration of
seagrass is reasonably possible. Such plans shall, to the extent
practicable, take into consideration, the goals of existing estuary
programs. In addition, seagrass management plans shall seek to preserve
traditional recreational activities, including recreational boating and
marina operations, as well as finfishing, shellfishing and tourism while
ensuring such activities do not threaten seagrass beds or negate
seagrass restoration efforts.

3. The department shall have the authority to adopt rules and
regulations to regulate coastal and marine activities that threaten
seagrass beds or seagrass restoration efforts.

4. The department shall have the authority to restrict the use of
mechanical-powered fishing or shellfishing gear which may directly
impact seagrass beds, including churning, dredges, rakes and tongs.

5. The department shall identify water quality impacts such as
nitrogen pollution and make recommendations on how to minimize such
impacts.

6. The department shall make information concerning the importance of
seagrass protection and the status of seagrass restoration efforts
available on the department website.