Section 2-15-4. (For effective date, see note.) Plan for development; requirement of plan; cooperation with colleges and universities

   (a) There shall be a pacific white shrimp aquaculture program within the department.

(b) The department shall make a thorough study of pacific white shrimp aquaculture and the potential for development and enhancement of such aquaculture in the state. It shall be the duty of the department to develop, distribute, and, from time to time, amend a pacific white shrimp aquaculture development plan for the State of Georgia for the purpose of facilitating the establishment and growth of economically viable pacific white shrimp aquaculture enterprises in Georgia. Such plan shall include:

   (1) An evaluation of Georgia's natural resources as they relate to pacific white shrimp aquaculture;

   (2) An evaluation of pacific white shrimp and its potential for culture in Georgia;

   (3) An identification of constraints to development of pacific white shrimp aquaculture in Georgia and recommendations on methods to alleviate such constraints;

   (4) An identification of the role of the department in supporting the pacific white shrimp aquaculture industry, including an evaluation of existing physical and personnel resources and recommendations for allocation of additional resources where needed;

   (5) A list of the resources, training programs, technical assistance, and other programs available to prospective pacific white shrimp aquaculturalists;

   (6) Recommendations for implementation of the plan; and

   (7) An identification of the role of other state and federal agencies in the development of the pacific white aquaculture industry.

(c) (1) To aid in performing its duties under this Code section, the department shall rely upon, to the extent feasible, the Georgia Center for Aquaculture Development at Fort Valley State University as a state-wide center for providing information, conducting research and development, and technology transfer training on fresh-water and marine aquaculture in diverse production systems.

   (2) Middle Georgia Technical College shall collaborate, to the extent feasible, with the Georgia Center for Aquaculture Development at Fort Valley State University on aquaculture training.

Code 1981, § 2-15-4, enacted by Ga. L. 2004, p. 948, § 2-1.