Category: Miscellaneous

South Carolina moratorium on importing oyster seed

Posted on behalf of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Based on recent information on oyster pathogens and considering the potential risk to native resources (which may be the last intact healthy populations of oysters in the world), SCDNR is declaring a moratorium on importing oyster seed into South Carolina from hatcheries located in areas of disease concern. This includes all states north of South Carolina.

SCDNR already had a policy against importation of oyster seed from those states unless they were coming from a hatchery. This policy is expanded to include hatcheries, effective immediately. This moratorium will remain in effect until such time as we feel the risk has been removed. We regret any inconvenience this may cause the shellfish industry but our paramount concern must be to protect our natural resources.

Questions, please contact Nancy Hadley, Shellfish Management, SCDNR at (843) 953-9841 or HadleyN@DNR.SC.GOV

DEM Emergency Shellfishing Closures Due to Rain

Posted on behalf of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

DEM ANNOUNCES NEW EMERGENCY CLOSURE OF SHELLFISHING AREAS IN POINT JUDITH POND AND POTTERS POND AS A RESULT OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND RUNOFF

The Department of Environmental Management announces that due to anticipated unacceptable water quality resulting from this weekend’s. 5.26″ of rainfall, all approved waters of Point Judith Pond and Potters Pond will be closed to shellfishing beginning at noon on Monday, March 31.

Due to excess runoff as a result of intense rainfall, these coastal ponds will remain closed until further information and/or test results indicate these waters are safe for shellfishing.

All aquaculturists in areas where emergency shellfish closures have been enacted will be allowed access to their leases to conduct necessary maintenance/retrieval of their equipment. All other activities on the aquaculture lease, including but not limited to the harvest of shellfish, will remain prohibited until the water quality is acceptable to allow for harvest. Aquaculturists that intend to conduct maintenance and/or retrieval of their equipment under this emergency authorization are required to notify Dave Beutel, CRMC’s Aquaculture Coordinator by leaving a message at 783-3370.

DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline with recorded updated information on shellfish closure areas. That number is 222-2900.

Whelk Research Meeting on March 19th

A Rhode Island whelk (conch) fishery research project was recently funded by RI Sea Grant. This project is a collaborative effort between the University of Rhode Island, RIDEM, and the whelk fishing industry in RI. The research project is seeking approximately 20 whelk fishers to participate in data collection and provide local knowledge about various aspects of the whelk fishery in RI.

A meeting will be held March 19, 2014, 6:30-8:30 PM at URI Narragansett Bay Campus, Hazard Room, Coastal Institute, Narragansett RI. Please read below for agenda.

AGENDA

Whelk Research Meeting

6:30-7:00 Introductions and explanation of the Sea Grant funded project

7:00-7:45 Local Knowledge- What do we know about whelk and the fishery?

7:45-8:30 How can you help with the research?

For additional information, please contact Thomas E. Angell, RIDEM Fish and Wildlife, Marine Fisheries at 423-1931 or at thomas.angell@dem.ri.gov

Connecticut Shellfish Initiative hosts A Vision for the Future of Shellfish in Connecticut conference

Connecticut Sea Grant/UConn Extension invites the public to attend a one-day conference on February 24th entitled “A Vision for the Future of Shellfish in Connecticut.” The conference will showcase the importance of our natural, recreational and commercial shellfish resources. To learn more about the conference or register, please visit their website at: http://smp.uconn.edu/

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