The current ex-officio are as follows:
• New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, who shall serve as chair
• Commissioner Shawn LaTourette- Commissioner of Environmental Protection
(Mr. Joseph Cimino Administrator, Marine Resource Administration serving as designee)
• Secretary Tahesha Way- Secretary of State; (Ms. Melanie Willoughby, Executive Director, NJ Business Action Center, serving as Designee)
seat to fill “Chairman of the Commerce and Economic Growth Commission”
• Acting Commissioner Kaitlan Baston - Commissioner of Health
(Mr. Loel Muetter, Director, Consumer, Environmental and Occupational Health Service serving as designee)
• Dr. Dave Bushek, Director of Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory
seat to fill “Director of the Aquaculture Technology Transfer Center”
• Dr. Douglas Zemeckis, County Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension
seat to fill “Director of the Aquaculture Training and Information Center”
• Dean Laura Lawson, Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (Mr. Mike DeLuca JCNERR Reserve Manager serving as designee)
• Mr. Richard Herb, chairman of Marine Fisheries Council (non-voting), Mr. Robert Rush (permanent proxy)
• Mr. Frank Virgilio, chairman of Fish and Game Council (non-voting), Mr. Steve Fleetwood (permanent proxy)

The public members of the Council are as follows (six total members):
• Ms. Lisa Calvo- President of Senate Appointee; representative of an aquaculture organization or operator of an aquaculture farm
• Mr. Barney Hollinger- President of Senate Appointee; representative of the seafood industry
• Mr. Matt Gregg- Speaker of the Assembly Appointee; representative of an aquaculture organization or operator of an aquaculture farm

New Jersey Aquaculture Development Plan (printable)

New Jersey Aquaculture Development Plan 

January 17, 2025 at 10 a.m., at the NJDA Office at 200 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ, 08611. # 

Friday, April 11, 10 a.m. - Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Cape May County, 355 Court House – South Dennis Road.

Friday, July 25, 10 a.m. - JC NERR, 130 Great Bay Blvd, Tuckerton

Friday, October 24, 10 a.m. - Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Ocean County, 1623 Whitesville Road, Toms River