RS 3:559.4 Repealed by acts 2010, no. 743, §2c, eff. july 1, 2010.
§559.4. Louisiana Aquaculture Coordinating Council; creation; organization
A. The Louisiana Aquaculture Coordinating Council is hereby created and shall be within the department. The council shall be domiciled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
B. The council shall consist of members appointed by the commissioner, and confirmed by the Senate, as follows:
(1) One member shall be a fishery biologist nominated by the Louisiana State University AgCenter.
(2) One member shall be a fishery biologist nominated by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
(3) One member shall be an aquatic biologist nominated by the University of Louisiana System.
(4) One member shall be an active aquatic producer appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Farm Bureau.
(5) One member shall be an active aquatic producer appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Catfish Promotion and Research Board.
(6) One member shall be an active aquatic producer appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Catfish Farmers Association.
(7) One member shall be an active aquatic producer appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
(8) One member shall be a Louisiana vocational agriscience teacher appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Vocational Agriscience Teachers' Association.
(9) One member shall be a consumer appointed from the public at large.
(10) One member shall be appointed from the Department of Economic Development.
(11) One member shall be an active game fish grower appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Game Fish Grower's Association.
(12) One member shall be an active member of the Louisiana Bass Anglers and Sportsmen Society appointed from a list of three persons nominated by that organization.
(13) One member shall be an active member of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana appointed from a list of three persons nominated by that organization.
(14) One member shall be an active aquatic producer appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Louisiana Crawfish Producers Association.
(15) One member shall be appointed from a list of three persons nominated by the Southern University Agricultural Center.
C. The commissioner and the secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, or their respective designees, shall serve ex officio and shall have all rights and responsibilities of appointed members, including being counted for purposes of constituting a quorum.
D. At the same time and in the same manner, the commissioner shall appoint one alternate for each appointed member. Each alternate shall possess the same qualifications as the member for whom he is appointed as an alternate. When a member is unable to be present at any meeting of the council, his alternate shall serve in his place. Any alternate serving in the place of a member shall be deemed to be a member for purposes of that meeting and shall exercise all of the powers vested by law in the member, including the right to vote.
E. Appointed members and alternates shall serve terms concurrent with the term of the commissioner making the appointment.
F. A vacancy in the office of a member or an alternate shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment for the remainder of the unexpired term. If any board or association named in this Section ceases to exist or does not submit a full list of names to the commissioner within thirty days after he requests a list of names, then the commissioner may appoint any otherwise qualified person not already appointed to the council.
G. A majority of the members of the council shall constitute a quorum.
H. Members of the council shall not receive any salary for performing their duties as members.
I. The council shall meet as needed at the call of the chairman.
J. The council, by a vote of a majority of the members, may expel a member or alternate for good cause shown. Good cause shall include but shall not be limited to three consecutive unexcused absences. The expulsion of a member or alternate creates a vacancy in that office.
K. There shall be within the council a research and development work group to be composed of the ex officio members of the council, such for the purpose of considering and executing one or more binding memorandums of understanding and agreement by and between the Department of Agriculture and Forestry and Department of Wildlife and Fisheries for the purpose of authorizing the study, provisional approval, and trial review of a species for aquaculture.
Acts 2004, No. 865, §1, eff. July 12, 2004; Acts 2008, No. 920, §1, eff. July 14, 2008.