Note
All states regulate aquaculture enterprises for several purposes. Similarly all states regulate their wild fisheries as well. In some instances the regulatory authority over aquaculture and wild fisheries overlap. Minimum size regulations for harvested shellfish are one such example. The principal argument supporting maintenance of size restrictions for wild and cultured shellfish in some states is that marine enforcement cannot distinguish between wild and cultured product. Thus, in the interest of protecting public resources, a minimum size restriction is placed on all product regardless of its origin.