CLASSIFICATION OF GROWING AREAS

(a) The department by order shall designate an area that is coastal water according to the rules of the Parks and Wildlife Commission as an approved area, a conditionally approved area, a restricted area, a conditionally restricted area, or a prohibited area, according to the classification categories in the current National Shellfish Sanitation Program Guide for the Control of Molluscan Shellfish or its successor. Coastal water is a prohibited area for the taking of molluscan shellfish unless designated otherwise by the department. (b) The department shall prohibit the taking of molluscan shellfish for a specified period from water to which molluscan shellfish may have been transferred from a restricted or conditionally restricted area. (c) The department by order shall designate growing areas as closed areas or open areas. The department shall modify or revoke an order according to the results of sanitary and bacteriological surveys conducted by the department. The department shall file the order in the department's office and shall furnish without charge a copy of the order describing the open or closed area on request. (d) The department shall conspicuously outline the classifications of areas for the taking of molluscan shellfish on maps and shall furnish the maps without charge on request. The failure of a person to obtain that information does not relieve that person from liability under this chapter.