The National Aquaculture Association has written a letter to New York Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon opposing three provisions of Assembly Bill A10645 she has introduced which would prohibit the shucking of farmed shellfish and cleaning, filleting of farmed fish for retail and restaurant customers.

Read NAA's Letter Here

New York, with its amazing cultural diversity, is a very important market for the sale of live shellfish and finfish. A great variety of people highly value and appreciate the availability of live seafood for its quality, freshness and flavor.

The NAA has commented the practice of shucking shellfish and cleaning fish for customers is as old as the founding of the New England colonies.  We have offered to connect Assemblymember Simon with New York live seafood retailers and the suppliers of live shellfish and finfish to New York to develop an appreciation

The East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, U.S. Trout Farmers Association, North Carolina Aquaculture Association and New York-based finfish and shellfish farmers will be reaching out as well.

The NAA encourages members to contact Assemblymember Simon to introduce yourself, describe your farm, and share how different cultures highly value access to live farmed seafood.

If you have questions or comments, please contact the NAA Office at  naa@nationalaquaculture.org.