Rhode Island Shellfish Signs

Shared on behalf of the RI Shellfish Management Plan Team.

Rhode Island Shellfish Signs

Through the SMP process, some have raised concerns over the status of shellfish signs in the state, specifically those signs which delineate open and closed waters based on water quality conditions. There are two issues regarding signs: 1) The presence/absence and condition of existing signs in designated locations, and 2) The possibility of collecting GPS coordinates for sign locations as an additional descriptor for resource users. A team at DEM has been working in the field since the spring to address these concerns.

1) Condition of signs – The DEM Office of Water Resources (OWR), in coordination with DEM Enforcement and to some degree DEM Fish and Wildlife, has the task of assessing and maintaining shellfish signs indicating water quality closures. These represent the majority of shellfish signs that stakeholders encounter, with another small percentage indicating Shellfish Management Areas (these are maintained by Fish and Wildlife). Each year, OWR, with help from field reports by Enforcement personnel, assess the condition (present, absent, damaged) of some 60+ signs in the state. Depending on staff time, weather conditions, and accessibility, OWR staff will conduct field maintenance on damaged/missing signs in the spring/summer of every year. In 2013, an assessment report of signs showed various signs needing to be replaced or repaired – OWR has been in the field since spring, using their existing stockpile to replace/repair these signs. While much progress has been made this year and field work continues, it is important to note that sign maintenance is an on-going, yearly process, as sign vandalism, stealing, obscuring from overgrown vegetation, etc. is common, and often signs go missing soon after they are replaced. Many signs are not accessible by land, requiring access by vessel only. As of July 2014, all range markers accessible by land have been visited and repaired/replaced as needed, and GPS coordinates were taken for each location. With continued collaboration and reliance on DEM Enforcement in the field, OWR aims to have all signs replaced this year. For those who wish to see the DEM Sign Assessment report, please contact Cindy Hannus at DEM (Cindy.Hannus@dem.ri.gov).

2) GPS Coordinates for Signs – Several stakeholders in the SMP process over the last year have suggested that DEM collect and advertise GPS coordinates for shellfish signs, along-side the currently used landmark descriptions for their locations. While most commercial shellfishermen have and use GPS units, there remains a legal issue in using coordinates for locations for regulatory purposes that are not collected by a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS). Using a professional service like this is very costly and laborious, but can help ensure accuracy. Through numerous discussions between DEM departments, it was decided in April of this year that GPS coordinates would be collected using professional equipment (i.e. high location accuracy) by DEM’s GIS and mapping expert over the summer months. Currently, about 33 percent of the sign locations have been assessed and GPS coordinates taken; the remaining sites (those accessible only by boat) are being visited over the next two months through coordination with F&W and others. The GPS coordinates will be included in 2015 regulations as a compliment and not in replacement of the current landmark descriptions.

New Guide to Help Fish, Shellfish and Seaweed Growers Manage Risks

Shared on behalf of Connecticut Sea Grant

GROTON CT—A new 285-page illustrated manual, the Northeastern U.S. Aquaculture Management Guide, has just been published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center. Edited by Tessa L. Getchis, Connecticut Sea Grant and UConn Extension aquaculture specialist, the manual is a wealth of useful information on potential hazards for those who grow fish, shellfish, and seaweed.  Twenty-five aquaculture extension professionals and many researchers, aquatic animal health professionals and farmers contributed to the information presented in this volume.

Every year, the aquaculture industry experiences economic losses due to diseases, pests, adverse weather, or operational mishaps.  This manual identifies many specific risks to help seafood growers identify, manage and correct production-related problems. The guide also includes monitoring and record-keeping protocols, and a list of aquaculture extension professional contacts who can help when there is a problem.

The publication was made possible by funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Northeastern Regional Aquaculture Center (NRAC) to the Northeast Aquaculture Extension Network. 

It is available for download in PDF format at: http://agresearch.umd.edu/nrac/publications-0

Raising Objections: R.I. Shellfish Farms Face Increasing Opposition

Shared on behalf of 41°N, Rhode Island’s Ocean and Coastal Magazine, a publication of Rhode Island Sea Grant and the Coastal Institute at the University of Rhode Island.

Author – Rudi Hempe

“Perry Raso’s Matunuck Oyster Bar, on the waterfront of South Kingstown’s Potter Pond, is jammed in the summer, and does respectable business year – round, even on a snowy day in January. Raso’s restaurant, however, is only the most visible part of his Matunuck Oyster Farm operation, and his success has not come without challenges in a state that boasts myriad regulatory hurdles amid increasing opposition to the aquaculture industry.”

“Raso’s oyster venture, with well over 100 employees, is considered by many of his peers a sign that aquaculture is flourishing in Rhode Island. But while his diners savor the fresh delectables on their plates, most have no idea what is involved in starting and maintaining an oyster farm in Rhode Island.”

“Raso grew up on the shore, and at age 12 was digging and diving for littlenecks in the salty water of Potter pond. His oyster operation got its start when he was an aquaculture and fisheries student the University of Rhode Island, where he graduated in 2002.”

Check out the full article here!

International Conference on Shellfish Restoration

Shared on behalf of Coastal Science Serving South Carolina

The International Conference on Shellfish Restoration (ICSR) will be held in Charleston, South Carolina in December 2014

Beginning with informative and fun field trips, ICSR will be an interactive 3 days, focused understanding current challenges to restoring shellfish and their habitat and devising partnerships and solutions to help solve some of the most common problems. Shellfish play a huge role in keeping our coastal waters healthy, whether they live on a reef or in a cage, so I hope both restoration and aquaculture scientists, NGOs, community groups, shellfish farmers, and coastal managers will all consider attending. Stay tuned for the Call for Session Abstracts and registration information!

If you have any questions please visit the website here.

Taking Stock of Currents and Quahogs

Shared on behalf of 41°N, Rhode Island’s Ocean and Coastal Magazine, a publication of Rhode Island Sea Grant and the Coastal Institute at the University of Rhode Island.

Author – Zoe Gentes

“Over 39 million clams were harvested from Narragansett Bay in 2012, supporting a $5.15 million commercial fishing industry, according to figures by Jeff Mercer, principal biologist in marine fisheries for the R.I> Department of Environmental Management (DEM).”

“The estimates of clams in the Bay are used to set fishing limits. In Rhode Island, commercial shellfishermen use a bull rake for harvesting clams. The DEM, however, uses a hydraulic dredge to collect clams for population estimates. Fisherman say that the dredging method of harvesting is inefficient and inaccurate, and is likely to result in unnecessary limits on the commercial fishing operations.”

Read the full article here!

1 … 20 21 22 23 24 … 40