(1) The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that it is the policy of the State of Oregon to seek opportunities to:
(a) Enhance and expand cultivated shellfish production;
(b) Conserve, protect and restore wild populations of native shellfish; and
(c) Improve water quality and the health of aquatic and marine habitats.
(2) In furtherance of the policy declared by this section, it is the intent of the Legislative Assembly that the state develop and adopt a shellfish initiative to prioritize and implement strategies for achieving protection of native shellfish and the enhancement of shellfish production.