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Army Corps of Engineers: Information on Shellfish Aquaculture Permitting Activities

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Report Type Reports and Testimonies
Report Date Feb. 21, 2019
Release Date Feb. 21, 2019
Report No. GAO-19-145
Summary:

Shellfish aquaculture projects—the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of oysters, clams, and mussels—may require authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Among other things, the Corps examines compliance with navigation and environmental laws.

We reviewed permit applications for such projects from 2012 through 2017 and found the Corps approved 87% of the 3,751 applications it received. It denied less than 1%. The rest were withdrawn.

We also reviewed the experiences of 15 applicants. Ten said the time it took to get a permit, which ranged from 1 day to 4 months, was reasonable. Five said their 18-day to 8-month waits were not.

Washington state produces about 90% of the world's farmed geoducks. This species of saltwater clam has sold for as much as $100 per pound in Asia.

Banded geoducks in stacked orange crates.

Banded geoducks in stacked orange crates.

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