NJ Department of Agriculture:
Aquatic Farmer License and for general aquaculture information

Contact: Amanda Wenczel
P: (609) 913-6499
Main Office: (609) 913-6490
Amanda.Wenczel@ag.nj.gov

New Jersey Department of Agriculture
Office of Aquaculture Coordination
P.O. Box 330
Trenton, NJ 08625-0330

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Marine Habitat and Shellfisheries:
Leased ground information, lease applications, NJ Commercial Shellfish Licenses, shellfish importation.

Atlantic Coast
Contact: Megan Swain
Megan.Swain@dep.nj.gov

Contact: Ricky DiVaccaro
Richard.DiVaccaro@dep.nj.gov

Bureau of Marine Habitat and Shellfisheries
360 Route 9 North, PO Box 418
Port Republic, NJ 08241

Delaware Bay
Primary Contact: Alissa Wilson
P: (856) 785-0730
Alissa.Wilson@dep.nj.gov

Secondary Contact: Craig Tomlin
P: (856) 785-0730
Craig.Tomlin@dep.nj.gov

Delaware Bay Shellfisheries Office
1672 E. Buckshutem Road
Millville, NJ 08332

Seed Importation
Contact: Megan Swain
Megan.Swain@dep.nj.gov

Bureau of Marine Habitat & Shellfisheries
360 Route 9 North, PO Box 418
Port Republic, NJ 08241

NJDEP Division of Land Resource Protection:
For many aquaculture activities, a permit may be required from the NJDEP Division of Land Resource Protection. For information concerning what activities require a permit, and, how to apply and receive a permit, please reach out to the following contacts.

Primary Contact: Kip LeWarn
P: (609) 633-2289
Kip.Lewarn@dep.nj.gov

Secondary Contact: Colleen Keller
P: (609) 633-2289
Colleen.Keller@dep.nj.gov

NJDEP Division of Land Resource Protection
501 E. State Street, PO Box 420
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

NJDEP Fish & Wildlife, Bureau of Law Enforcement, Marine Region:
Law Enforcement and Patrol.

Primary Contact: Deputy Chief Jason Snellbaker
P: (609) 748-2050
Jason.Snellbaker@dep.nj.gov

Secondary Contact: Captain Brian Scott
P: (609) 748-2050
Brian.Scott@dep.nj.gov

Bureau of Law Enforcement
Marine Region
2434 County Road 563
Egg Harbor City, NJ 08215

NJDEP Bureau of Coastal & Land Use Compliance & Enforcement:
For aquaculture activities requiring an NJDEP Land Use Permit/permit by rule, the Bureau ensures compliance with said permits, permit conditions, and approved plans. In addition, the Bureau investigates reports of aquaculture activities being conducted without first obtaining the required Land Use approvals. Enforcement action is taken as appropriate to ensure compliance with N.J.A.C. 7:7.

Contact: Harry Nicol
P: (732) 504-0922
Harry.Nicol@dep.nj.gov

NJDEP Bureau of Coastal & Land Use Compliance & Enforcement
1510 Hooper Avenue
Suite 140
Toms River, NJ 08753
Use NJDEP Hotline: (877) 927- 6337 to report possible unauthorized aquaculture activities.

NJDEP Bureau of Tidelands:
Any aquaculture activity taking place at or below the mean high water line, or that requires a Division of Land Resource Protection permit, will need a Tidelands Instrument. Contact the Bureau of Tidelands Management if you have any questions, no matter how small.

For general questions concerning application submittal:
Contact: Michael Cuccia
Technical Support
P: (609) 292-2573
C: (609) 256-0290
Michael.Cuccia@dep.nj.gov

For other inquires:
Contact: Melissa Miller
Melissa.Miller@dep.nj.gov

Contact: Randy Bearce
P: (609) 292-2573
Randy.Bearce@dep.nj.gov

Division of Land Resource Protection Bureau of Tidelands Management
P.O. Box 420 Code 501-02B
Trenton, NJ 08625-0420

NJDEP Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring:
Shellfish Water Classification, Water Quality Data, Special Permits for Shellfish Harvesting and Aquaculture. 

Contact: Sarah K. Gentile
P: (609) 748-2001
Sarah.Gentile@dep.nj.gov

NJDEP Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring
PO Box 405
Leeds Point, NJ 08220

Department of Health:
The Shellfish Project oversees a certification program which requires all wholesale shellfish dealers to handle, process, and ship shellfish under sanitary conditions and maintain records verifying that the shellfish were obtained from approved areas. By law, each bushel of shellfish must have a tag indicating that it was harvested from approved waters and harvested by dealers certified by the Department of Health.

Primary Contact: Virginia Wheatley
P: (609) 826-4935
Virginia.Wheatley@doh.nj.gov

Secondary Contact: Loel Muetter
Public Health and Food Protection Program
P: (609) 826-4935
Loel.Muetter@doh.nj.gov

Public Health and Food Protection Program:
NJDOH Shellfish Project for more information.

US Food and Drug Administration:

• FDA- Prevention of Illnesses & Molluscan Shellfish safety issues including Aquaculture for all species of Clams, Oysters, Mussels and Whole-Roe-on Scallops
• Based on the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)
• Provides technical guidance
• Conducts Training
• Conducts State Program Evaluations
• Evaluates State Program Elements including Shellfish Harvest and Patrol of Harvest Areas
• Vibrio Control Programs & Risk Assessments to Reduce the Potential for Vibrio Illnesses in Humans
• Growing/Harvest Area Classification
• Aquaculture
• Processing and Shipping Requirements for Certified Plants including Wet Storage and Depuration
• Tagging/Recordkeeping Requirements
• Multi-State Illness Reporting and Response
• Traceability and Recalls
• Shellfish Laboratory Methods
• Foreign Imported Shellfish Requirements

Contact: Gary J. Wolf
P: (856) 290-4019
F: (856) 783-1513
Gary.Wolf@fda.hhs.gov

Department of Health and Human Services
Public Health Service
Food and Drug Administration
525 Route 73 South
Marlton, NJ 08053

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers:
Regulates work and structures that are located in, under or over navigable waters of the United States under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, and the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.

For General Information:
https://www.nap.usace.army.mil/Missions/Regulatory/Aquaculture/

Philadelphia District Office
P: (215) 656-6728
philadelphiadistrict@usace.army.mil
napregulatory@usace.army.mil 

Primary Contact: Nikolas Tranchik
Nikolas.p.tranchik@usace.army.mil

Secondary Contact: Alex Kuklentz
Alexandra.j.kuklentz@usace.army.mil

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Attn: Regulatory Branch, 5th Floor
1650 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103

NJDEP Bureau of Program Development:
Development of land use regulations for shellfish aquaculture activities (placement of structures) requiring a permit from the NJDEP Division of Land Resource Protection.

Contact: Sarah McCabe
P: (609) 777-0979
Sarah.McCabe@dep.nj.gov

NJDEP Bureau of Program Development
501 E. State Street
Mail Code: 501-02A
Trenton, NJ 08625-420