Chapter 485-G: Coastal Marine Natural Resources and Environment Commission

There is established a coastal marine natural resources and environment commission.

I. The members of the commission shall be as follows:

(a) Two members of the senate, appointed by the president of the senate.

(b) Three members of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The commissioner of the department of environmental services, or designee.

(d) The commissioner of the department of natural and cultural resources, or designee.

(e) The executive director of fish and game, or designee.

(f) The chair of the advisory committee on marine fisheries, or designee.

(g) Two representatives of the aquaculture industry, appointed by the governor.

(h) One commercial fisherman, appointed by the governor.

(i) One recreational fisherman, appointed by the governor.

(j) The Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper.

(k) One representative of the cooperative extension in fisheries, appointed by the dean of the cooperative extension.

(l) One environmental scientist from the University of New Hampshire, appointed by the president of the University of New Hampshire.

(m) One representative of the New Hampshire Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, appointed by the director of the board of trustees of the New Hampshire chapter.

II. Legislative members of the commission shall receive mileage at the legislative rate when attending to the duties of the commission.

The commission shall:

I. Investigate, monitor, and propose prevention and mitigation strategies for emerging environmental threats in coastal and Great Bay waters, including but not limited to warming of waters, ocean acidification, sedimentation, and nutrient loading, which impact fish, shellfish, and the food chain thereof.

II. Identify gaps and recommend improvements in water quality monitoring, including monitoring pH and evaluating its impact on the impaired waters designation of water bodies.

III. Recommend strategies for enhancing capacities for improving water quality.

IV. Examine the Blue Carbon credit program for sea grass promotion and oyster bed restoration.

V. Report annually on November 1 to the chairpersons of the house and senate committees with jurisdiction over issues affecting coastal marine resources and the environment, the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the governor.

The members of the commission shall elect a chairperson from among the members. The first meeting of the commission shall be called by the first-named senate member. The first meeting of the commission shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. Four members of the commission shall constitute a quorum.