Commercial Shellfish Leasing on the Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ)


The Bureau of Shellfisheries encourages you to talk and work with Bureau staff early and often to streamline the process and avoid confusion. Staff members have access to all appropriate leasing records and staff members will be available to assist leaseholders through the process of obtaining a lease, lease renewal, and transfer.

Please refer to the table below for a general overview of the shellfish leasing program

How to Obtain a Lease:

An Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ) is a leasing area where the State has acquired the necessary aquaculture permits for structural aquaculture practices. The goal of New Jersey’s ADZ program is to cluster certain types of structural shellfish aquaculture in certain areas. This management system attempts to minimize environmental, social, and user-group conflicts while streamlining the permitting process that growers are required to navigate. An ADZ can be beneficial for groups of growers seeking joint-upland water access, technical support, entrance into markets, access to seed and equipment, and centralized postharvest operations and processing. The clustered approach also allows the State to effectively manage the ADZs by providing integrated oversight from NJDFW staff and enforcement officers, while also improving product safety and public health oversight. The ADZ approach creates a permit-in-hand system, effectively a “one-stop-shop” process. Please note that in ADZ4 and some other specific private leasing areas in this region of Delaware Bay, additional access and conservation measures may apply to certain operations if those activities could affect threatened or endangered species. For more information, please click here to review the USFWS’s BIOLOGICAL OPINION ON THE EFFECTS OF EXISTING AND EXPANDED STRUCTURAL AQUACULTURE OF NATIVE BIVALVES IN DELAWARE BAY, MIDDLE AND LOWER TOWNSHIPS, CAPE MAY COUNTY, NEW JERSEY ON THE FEDERALLY LISTED RED KNOT (CALIDRIS CANUTUS RUFA).

Currently, there are three active ADZs, one nearshore (ADZ4) and two offshore (ADZ 2 & 3), all located in the Delaware Bay. The nearshore ADZ, known as ADZ4, started operation in 2012 and is a 45-acre site. There are currently 12 farms located within ADZ4. The offshore ADZs - ADZ2 and ADZ3 - are 500 and 600 acres, respectively. These sites are located approximately 3.5 miles offshore, northwest of Pierce’s Point in the lower Delaware Bay. Ten-acre parcels are currently available for lease in these areas. Please contact the Delaware Bay Office if interested in obtaining a lease in either offshore area.

Please be advised that even though an ADZ shellfish lease grants the leaseholder exclusive rights to the bottom for the planting, cultivating, and harvest of shellfish which includes various permits held by the state for structural aquaculture. Some additional permits may be required, for example, a commercial shellfish aquaculture permit is required from the Bureau of Marine Water Monitoring for the growing of shellfish in waters classified as Approved or Conditionally Approved and harvest for direct marketing.

Please visit the Permitting Guidance page for more information on the various types of permits required for shellfish aquaculture depending on activity and culture methods.

Additional Resource: GIS-Based Tool for Spatial Planning of Shellfish Aquaculture in New Jersey


Overview of Commercial Shellfish Leasing in New Jersey
  ATLANTIC COAST DELAWARE BAY (Non-ADZ) OFF-SHORE ADZ's NEAR-SHORE ADZ's
Contact Office Nacote Creek
Research Station		 Delaware Bay Office Delaware Bay Office Delaware Bay Office
Office Hours More Info More Info More Info More Info
Primary Contact Megan Kelly
609-748-2020 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730
Lease Policy available Yes Yes *No *No
Lease Application Fee $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $2,000
per 3-acre lease
Is a License required prior to
obtaining a Lease? 		Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License
  		No,
but a license is required for the harvest
and sale of product
 Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License
 Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License
Biological Assessment $15.00
(if applicable)		 N/A N/A N/A
Annual Renewal Fees
(Lessee Renewal Fee
+
Lease Fee) 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$2 per acre or 100 linear foot ($5 min.) 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$0.50 per acre 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$10.00 per acre 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$100.00 per acre
Hydrographic Survey $30 per corner $30 per corner N/A N/A
Lease Transfer $5.00 for the first lease transferred and,
$1.00 per each additional lease transferred,
if transferring more than one lease at a time
(i.e., 3 leases = $7.00) 		$5.00 for the first lease transferred and,
$1.00 per each additional lease transferred,
if transferring more than one lease at a time
(i.e., 3 leases = $7.00) 		Non-Transferable Non-Transferable
Is Staking required ? Yes, see 7:25-24.10 Yes, see 7:25-13.1 Yes, see 7:25-13.1* Yes, see 7:25-13.1*
Is Shellfisheries Council
approval required? 		Yes Yes Yes Yes
*Detailed lease agreements are available, please contact the appropriate office for more information



The Bureau of Shellfisheries encourages you to talk and work with Bureau staff early and often to streamline the process and avoid confusion. Staff members have access to all appropriate leasing records and staff members will be available to assist leaseholders through the process of obtaining a lease, lease renewal, and transfer.

Please refer to the table below for a general overview of the shellfish leasing program.

Lease Renewal:

A Commercial Shellfish Lease must be renewed by December 31st each calendar year at our regional office. Renewal paperwork is available each year by mid-October. (For example, to renew a lease for 2021, a lease renewal must be signed and paid for by December 31, 2020)

The Delaware Bay Shellfisheries Office located at 1672 E. Buckshutem Rd. Millville, NJ 08332.
Fees:
  • Offshore Delaware Bay Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ2/3): $10.00 per acre plus $100.00 annual renewal fee applied per entity.
  • Inshore Aquaculture Development Zone (ADZ4): $100.00 per acre plus $100.00 annual renewal fee applied per entity.

Overview of Commercial Shellfish Leasing in New Jersey
  ATLANTIC COAST DELAWARE BAY (Non-ADZ) OFF-SHORE ADZ's NEAR-SHORE ADZ's
Contact Office Nacoate Creek Research Station Delaware Bay Office Delaware Bay Office Delaware Bay Office
Office Hours More Info More Info More Info More Info
Primary Contact Megan Kelly
609-748-2020 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730
Lease Policy available Yes Yes *No *No
Lease Application Fee $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $2,000
per 3-acre lease
Is a License required prior to
obtaining a Lease?
  		Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License 		No,
but a license is required for the harvest
and sale of product 		Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License 		Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License
Biological Assessment $15.00
(if applicable)		 N/A N/A N/A
Annual Renewal Fees
( Lessee Renewal Fee
+
Lease Fee ) 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$2 per acre or 100 linear foot ($5 min.) 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$0.50 per acre 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$10.00 per acre 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$100.00 per acre
Hydrographic Survey $30 per corner $30 per corner N/A N/A
Lease Transfer $5.00 per lease,
$1.00 per additional lease
(i.e. 3 leases = $7.00) 		$5.00 per lease,
$1.00 per additional lease
(i.e. 3 leases = $7.00) 		Non-Transferable Non-Transferable
Is Staking required? Yes, see 7:25-24.10 Yes, see 7:25-13.1 Yes, see 7:25-13.1* Yes, see 7:25-13.1*
Is Shellfisheries Counc il
approval required? 		Yes Yes Yes Yes
*Detailed lease agreements are available, please contact the appropriate office for more information




The Bureau of Shellfisheries encourages you to talk and work with Bureau staff early and often to streamline the process and avoid confusion. Staff members have access to all appropriate leasing records and staff members will be available to assist leaseholders through the process of obtaining a lease, lease renewal, and transfer.

Please refer to the table below for a general overview of the shellfish leasing program.

Lease Transfer:

ADZ leases are non-transferable.

Overview of Commercial Shellfish Leasing in New Jersey
ATLANTIC COAST DELAWARE BAY (Non-ADZ) > OFF-SHORE ADZ's NEAR-SHORE ADZ's
Contact Office Nacoate Creek Research Station Delaware Bay Office Delaware Bay Office Delaware Bay Office
Office Hours Tuesday - Friday
8:30am - 3:00pm 		Tuesday - Friday
8:30am - 4:30pm 		Tuesday - Friday
8:30am - 4:30pm 		Tuesday - Friday
8:30am - 4:30pm
Primary Contact Megan Kelly
609-748-2020 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730 		Conor Davis
856-785-0730
Lease Policy available Yes Yes *No *No
Lease Application Fee $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $2,000
per 3-acre lease
Is a License required prior to
obtaining a Lease?
  		Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License 		No,
but a license is required for the harvest
and sale of product 		Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License 		Yes,
Commercial Shellfish License
Biological Assessment $15.00
(if applicable)		 N/A N/A N/A
Annual Renewal Fees
(Lessee Renewal Fee
+
Lease Fee) 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$2 per acre or 100 linear foot ($5 min.) 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$0.50 per acre 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$10.00 per acre 		Per Entity:
$100.00
+
Annual Lease Fee:
$100.00 per acre
Hydrographic Survey $30 per corner $30 per corner N/A N/A
Lease Transfer $5.00 per lease,
$1.00 per additional lease
(i.e. 3 leases = $7.00) 		$5.00 per lease,
$1.00 per additional lease
(i.e. 3 leases = $7.00) 		Non-Transferable Non-Transferable
Is Staking required? Yes, see 7:25-24.10 Yes, see 7:25-13.1 Yes, see 7:25-13.1* Yes, see 7:25-13.1*
Is Shell fisheries Council
approval really required? 		Yes Yes Yes Yes
*Detailed lease agreements are available, please contact the appropriate office for more information