Category: RI Seafood & Aquaculture Updates

Aquaculture in the Ocean State: FREE Summer Tours

What does a working shellfish farm look like up close?

What is a ‘shellfish restoration lease’ and how does it work?

Explore the answers to these questions and more this summer on our free public tours!

Hear from experts, including the “Pond to Plate” founder and owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar, the state’s Aquaculture Coordinator, and the head of the Jamestown Aquaculture Movement. Tour a working shellfish farm to see firsthand how they grow, and learn the value of shellfish restoration to our water quality and marine critters. Join us and shellfish experts to learn and discuss all aspects of shellfish farming in the Ocean State.

For adventurers! A “Wading” Tour of Matunuck Oyster Farm

Wednesday July 13, 2016
9:00AM – 11:30AM

The tour will meet in the parking lot of East Matunuck State Beach, 950 Succotash Rd, South Kingston, RI 02881.

Join Perry Raso (Owner/Operator of Matunuck Oyster Bar, Pam Lyons_Historic Perspectives of Ninigret Pond) and Dave Beutel, Aquaculture Coordinator, RI Coastal Resources Management Council for a wading tour of Perry’s shellfish growing operation in Potter Pond. The tour will start in the morning at the parking lot of East Matunuck State Beach. Good walking/water shoes required – Involves some adventuresome bush-whacking! RSVP today, limited spots available. Perry has invited ‘wading’ tour guests back to his award-winning Matunuck Oyster Bar for chowder & stuffies after the tour. Participants will also receive a free copy of the book, Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage: An Ecological History. Please rsvp to Azure@crc.uri.edu. SORRY, THIS TOUR IS FULL.

Shellfish Research in Jamestown

Monday August 15, 2016
10:00AM – 12:30PM

The tour will meet in the parking lot of the Melrose Avenue School, 76 Melrose Ave. Jamestown, RI 02835.

Join Phil Larson, founder of the Jamestown Aquaculture Movement, restoration experts, and Jamestown officials on a walking tour of an Oyster Research Site in Jamestown. Form a better understanding of what a research & education site does and come to know how one type of gear (floating) works for aquaculture. Sturdy shoes are required. Snacks & refreshments will be served and participants will receive a free copy of the book, Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage: An Ecological History. Please rsvp to Azure@crc.uri.edu.

The 5 Percent Rule:
The Science, History and Public Discussion

Monday, October 24, 2016 from 4:00-6:00PM
and
Wednesday, November 30, 2016 from 4:00-6:00PM
Both meetings will be held at the Coastal Institute at the URI Bay Campus

Join us this fall & winter to learn from those who were involved in shaping the “5 Percent Rule” for aquaculture in Rhode Island’s coastal salt ponds. The rule states that no more than 5 percent of the salt pond area can be used for aquaculture. Learn from scientists, policy-makers, and industry as they share the current biology and social science underway in Ninigret Pond related to aquaculture, past research that informed the 5 percent rule decision, and knowledge-sharing from those who were present in the original rule-setting. Join in the discussion during two meetings – Voice your opinions and experiences with the group and share ideas for future aquaculture management.

Events are hosted by the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (URI GSO) Coastal Resources Center / Rhode Island Sea Grant, through grants from NOAA’s National Sea Grant office and the Sharpe Family Foundation/Henry and Peggy Sharpe, in collaboration with CRMC and Roger Williams University.

RI DEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife announces “Come Clam with Me” Schedule!

RIDEM’s Division of Fish and Wildlife has announced it’s ‘Come Clam with Me’ schedule! The dates are as follows:

June 6, 1pm-4pm in North Kingstown
June 21, 1pm-4pm in Bristol
July 19, 12:30pm-3:30pm in Bristol
August 4, 2pm-5pm in North Kingstown
August 19, 1:30pm-4:30pm in North Kingstown
September 17, 1pm-4pm in Warwick

Attached is the flyer and registration form which can be filled out on-line or printed and mailed. CCWM 2016 Registration Form. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED and we ask that you only register for one date (first, second and third choices available). Please include all participants attending. Families with children 8 and older are welcome. An email confirmation with detailed directions will be sent to you once you are officially registered.

If you need further information, please contact Kimberly Sullivan or Jessica Pena at 401-539-0019.

The Aquatic Resource Education program cannot wait for the clamming season to begin!

Thank you,
Kimberly Sullivan
Principal Biologist – Freshwater Fisheries
Aquatic Resource Education Coordinator

Mixed uses on Salt Pond

Check out the article Aquaculture and Recreation Vie for Salt Pond Use from ecoRI.  This article looks at how Salt Pond provides a mixed use for recreational and aquaculture purposes.  In addition, this article touches upon the work that Tracey Dalton is doing in conjunction with Rhode Island Sea Grant and the Coastal Resource Management Council’s (CRMC) regulations on aquaculture.

To read the full article click here.

Education Exchange Now Accepting Applications for the Aquaculture Training Program

Apply for the Aquaculture Training Program by March 18th, 2016 and make $9.60 per hour while training for a career in aquaculture.  Click here to fill out the application.

“The Education Exchange is now recruiting for the Aquaculture training program! The 5 week training session will prepare individuals to work in a number of positions throughout the Aquaculture industry. Participants receive training   in key employment areas such as essential job skills, basic boating skills, boating tools and maintenance, shellfish biology, dealer and shipper skills and more.”

For more information on the Aquaculture Training Program click here and for more information on applying click here.

 

New Book Tells the Story of Rhode Island in Shellfish

The article in the Rhode Island Monthly reviews Sarah Schumann’s new book called Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage: An Ecological History.

“The book provides an illustrated guide to Rhode Island’s shellfish population, tells the story of some of the state’s well-known fishing families, describes how pollution affected the shellfish population, details the different types of quahogging equipment and even delves into the debate over chowder.”

“Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage is available free at the Rhode Island Sea Grant office, in digital form online, or can be ordered for $7 in postage. The contact at Rhode Island Sea Grant is Tracy Kennedy at tkennedy@uri.edu or 401-874-6805.”

To view the whole article click here.

 

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