Amends GS 113-202 to prohibit the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources from excluding an area from shellfish cultivation leasing solely because the area contains submerged aquatic vegetation. Requires that the secretary make specific findings based on the standards in the statue before reaching a decision not to grant or renew a lease for any area containing submerged aquatic vegetation. Effective July 1, 2015, and applies to any new or renewals of existing shellfish cultivation leases issued on or after that date.