A new effort to add laboratory testing facilities for shellfish is pending in the state legislature, but is still meeting with resistance from the two state agencies that currently handle the testing.

Under the bill, sponsored by State Senators Heather Somers, R-Groton, and Paul Formica, R-East Lyme, along with Rep. Pam Staneski, R-Milford, the state departments of public health and agriculture, which includes the Bureau of Aquaculture, would submit a report by Jan. 1, 2018, describing the equipment and qualifications that would have to be met by an alternative laboratories that could test seawater samples and shellfish meats for health and safety standards. The report would include a cost-benefit analysis. The labs could be privately or publicly owned, according to the bill. In past years when similar bills were submitted, establishment a lab at the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus in Groton was promoted. The current bill, however, does not explicitly propose a lab there.

During an Environment Committee public hearing on the bill last week, Staneski and Somers, along with state Reps. Joe de la Cruz, D-Groton, Christine Conley, D-Groton, and Charles Ferraro, R-West Haven, submitted joint testimony urging approval of the bill to support the growing shellfish industry. Currently, all seawater, clam and oyster meat samples from commercial and recreational shellfish beds are tested at the state Bureau of Aquaculture’s lab in Milford, but because of high volumes of samples and staffing shortages, more options for testing are needed, they said.

“We fully support the concept of allowing the industry to have testing performed at an approved outside lab facility with test results being sent to the department (of agriculture) for final signoff,” they said.

Shellfish supporters in eastern Connecticut and other parts of the state have been asking for additional lab facilities since 2014, when the aquaculture bureau employee who carried water and meat samples from this part of the state to the Milford lab was transferred to another area. The courier service was not replaced.

Since then, volunteer shellfish commissioners as well as commercial shellfishermen in Groton, Stonington, East Lyme and other towns have had to drive the samples to Milford for the testing required to keep the beds open.

Testimony was also submitted by representatives of Norm Bloom and Son of Norwalk, one of the state’s largest commercial shellfish operations. Instead of specifically supporting the bill, the company argued that the state is hurting the shellfish industry by underfunding the Bureau of Aquaculture, resulting in testing delays due to lack of staffing.

Another commercial shellfishing company, Briarpatch Enterprises of Milford, strongly supported the bill. The company is owned by Joseph Gilbert, who owns fishing vessels that operate out of Stonington and leases shellfish beds at several locations along the Connecticut coastline.

In its testimony, company spokesman Benjamin Goetsch urged passage of the bill to help recreational as well as commercial shellfishing in the state.

“Local shellfish commissions, especially in the eastern part of the state, have the undue burden of transporting samples to the Milford lab for testing,” he said.

The state Department of Public Health, however, opposes the bill, arguing that it already completed a report on shellfish lab facilities in 2015, and would not be able to complete a new report without funding to hire an outside contractor. The health department currently provides backup services to the aquaculture lab, testing 150 to 250 seawater samples for fecal coliform analysis only. The health department could continue that testing, but said it does not have the resources to do more.

Also opposing the bill is the state Department of Agriculture, which also cited the report completed in 2015.

“After considerable analysis, it was concluded that the existing state Department of Agriculture’s Aquaculture Laboratory facility in Milford is adequate to perform testing for the state’s shellfish industry,” Agriculture Commissioner Steven Reviczky wrote.

j.benson@theday.com