The following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
"Bottom" means lands of the State under the tidal waters of the State except in the tidal waters of the Delaware River, Delaware Bay and their tributaries.
"Bureau" means the Bureau of Shellfisheries in the Division of Fish and Wildlife.
"Commercial Shellfish License" means the commercial clam license required and available as specified in N.J.S.A. 50:2-1 to N.J.S.A. 50:2-5 and N.J.A.C. 7:25-8.1; or the oyster dredge boat license available as specified in N.J.S.A. 50:3-1 and N.J.A.C. 7:25A; or the oyster shucker, planter or dealer license available as specified in N.J.S.A. 50:3-20.11.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection or his or her designee.
"Council" means the Atlantic Coast Section of the New Jersey Shell Fisheries Council.
"Department" means the Department of Environmental Protection.
"Lessee" means that person or persons holding a lease of bottom to be exclusively used and enjoyed by the lessee for the planting and cultivating of shellfish, approved by a majority of the Council and approved and signed by the Commissioner.
"New ground" means bottom not leased as of September 18, 1989, and any leased bottom not subject to a valid lease after September 18, 1989.
"Overstaking" means the placement of stakes or buoys so as to delineate an area greater than that described in the lease.
"Productive" means a determination by the Bureau that the bottom surveyed exhibits significant natural recruitment of one or more shellfish species, as evidenced by one or more of the following factors: shellfish density, shellfish year class strength, presence of juvenile shellfish, size distribution of shellfish population, environmental parameters (such as salinity), and historical production record.
"Public bottom" means bottom not subject to a valid lease on which shellfish may be harvested by members of the public subject to the provisions of this subchapter and any other applicable statutes and regulations.
"Shellfish" means hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), soft clams (Mya arenaria), sea clams (surf clams) (Mactra solidissima, also known as Spisula solidissima) and oysters (Crassostrea virginica).
"Shellfish Certificate" means any of the classifications of licenses or certificates issued by the New Jersey Department of Health pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:13.
"Staking" means the placement of stakes or buoys to mark the boundaries of a leased area.
N.J. Admin. Code § 7:25-24.4
See: 32 New Jersey Register 4435(a), 33 New Jersey Register 874(a).