Department of Agriculture

New Jersey Aquaculture Advisory Council

Members

The current ex-officio are as follows:

  • Edward D. Wengryn- New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture, who shall serve as chair
  • Acting Commissioner Ed Potosnak- Commissioner of Environmental Protection
    (Mr. Joseph Cimino Administrator, Marine Resource Administration serving as designee)
  • Lt. Governor Dr. Dale G. Caldwell- 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”
  • Dr. Raynard E. Washington - Acting 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

2026 Aquaculture Advisory Council Meeting Schedule

Friday, April 17th, 2026 at 10:00 AM - HYBRID MEETING -

IN PERSON LOCATION:

Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve (JC NERR), 130 Great Bay BLVD., Tuckerton, NJ 08087

REMOTE DETAILS:

Microsoft Teams- Join the meeting now   

Meeting ID: 218 731 585 993 967

Passcode: Xw9fu2Eq

Dial in by phone- +1 856-338-7074,,146833724# United States, Camden

Phone conference ID: 146 883 724#

UPCOMING MEETING DATES:

  • Friday, July 17th at 10 AM, Location-TBD
  • Friday, October 9th at 10 AM, Location-TBD

Meeting Agendas

Meeting Minutes