Shellfish Interagency Permitting team

Phase 1 results

Shellfish Interagency Permitting Team Phase I Report, May 2016

Ten recommendations to improve shellfish permitting:

1. Establish a state shellfish aquaculture coordinator.
2. Create a centralized mapping and data tracking portal.
3. Develop consistent, practicable, and effective best management practices.
4. Address overall permit timeliness.
5. Continue outreach to growers.
6. Provide technical assistance to local governments.
7. Assess permit compliance.
8. Reduce redundancies and improve interagency coordination.
9. Devote funding to support shellfish aquaculture permitting.
10. Designate a lead state agency to manage shellfish aquaculture.

Products to improve the permit application process

Permit applicants are encouraged to use the Joint Aquatic Resource Permit Application (JARPA) which serves as a one-stop application for most federal, state, and local permits and authorizations. When navigating the permitting process, applicants are encouraged to use the following products:

• Primary Requirements to Grow and Harvest Shellfish in Washington State (September 2014)
• Existing Permitting Processes flowchart (September 2014)
• Supplemental Narrative for Existing Permitting Processes flowchart (September 2014)
• JARPA Instruction B (June 2012)
• Aquaculture Supplemental Drawing Checklist (September 2014)

The SIP team also offers joint state agency-tribal government consultation to permit applicants. A joint consultation can reduce permitting costs and increase consistency while avoiding redundancy in the process.