This bill amends R.S.50:1-27 to establish regulations for shellfisheries areas along the Atlantic Coast. It empowers the Shellfisheries Council, with the approval of the commissioner, to determine the terms of leases, including the rental fees and the maximum size of leased grounds. Specifically, the bill sets the maximum size for any single ground that can be leased for shellfishing at 50 acres.

The legislation aims to provide clearer guidelines for shellfishing leases, ensuring that no single lease exceeds the specified acreage. This change is intended to promote sustainable management of shellfisheries in the Atlantic coastal waters of New Jersey, which are defined as the tidal waters of the state, excluding the Delaware River, Delaware Bay, and their tributaries. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage.