A. The legislature hereby finds and declares that a substantial production of aquatic livestock in private, constructed facilities occurs yearly in Louisiana, which substantially contributes to the vitality of Louisiana's economy. The raising and harvesting of aquatic livestock is substantially similar to and utilizes similar production practices as are used in traditional agriculture. Therefore, the legislature finds that the raising and harvesting of aquatic livestock in a private, constructed environment is agriculture and that aquatic livestock in such an environment is not wildlife.
B. No unified program for overseeing and coordinating modern, sustainable aquacultural production exists in Louisiana. The development of a modern aquaculture industry through a regulatory program that allows for the development of current and future aquacultural production, while at the same time protecting the native fish and aquatic life and wildlife and their natural habitat, will be beneficial to the economy of this state.
C. The purpose of this Part is to provide a regulatory framework for the orderly development and maintenance of a modern aquacultural segment of Louisiana's agriculture industry and for the promotion of aquaculture and aquacultural products.