Honoring the economic and cultural value of Rhode Island's shellfish
The Newport Oyster Festival May 21st and May 22nd in Newport, RI.
“The Newport Oyster Festival will connect Rhode Island growers with the oyster-loving public, as well as the chefs and restaurants that serve them.”
For more information or to purchase tickets for this event click here.
Presented by Dennis Esposito, Adjunct Professor at the Marine Affairs Institute, and Director, Environmental and Land-Use Clinical Externship Program, Roger Williams University School of Law.
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Cross Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Road, Charlestown, RI
The shellfish farming industry is growing in Rhode Island, and with it arises questions regarding the rights and responsibilities of property owners along the salt ponds, and of their neighboring aquaculture operations. This talk invites attendees to ask questions of a seasoned legal professional and to participate in a thoughtful group discussion on the shellfish farming industry in the community context.
Refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP to Azure Cygler, Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant extensions specialist, at azure@crc.uri.edu.
This talk is the third in a series of educational presentations about Rhode Island’s salt ponds and their uses, especially shellfish farming. Join us and hear from experts, tour a working shellfish farm, visit a shellfish nursery, and talk to community members, policy-makers, and researchers. To see other upcoming events, go to www.rismp.org.
This series is sponsored by Rhode Island Sea Grant and the Coastal Resources Center at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, in collaboration with Roger Williams University and the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council, supported by a grant from the NOAA National Sea Grant College 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.
Starting in 2016, CRMC will be requiring all shellfish farming business owners to attend a harvester training class to meet new federal regulations.
The FDA and the interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference have recently mandated that states carry out periodic harvester training to ensure that all harvesters are fully aware of the regulations required to ensure that our shellfish are wholesome and safe.
The CRMC will be offering three sessions in 2016 and anyone holding an aquaculture lease or intending to apply for a lease should sign up to attend one of these sessions. The sessions will address the specific requirements of aquaculture lease holders. The harvest of shellfish during the warm-weather months requires special attention due to the potential for food-born illness related to Vibrio bacteria.
Sessions will cover all of the federal and state shellfish harvesting regulations including tagging requirements, harvest area specifications, vessel design and maintenance regulations, and more. Much of the course will focus on explaining the new state Vibrio Management Plan and the new harvest controls implemented in 2015. These restrictions are designed to protect shellfish from thermal abuse during summer months to prevent the post-harvest growth of Vibrio bacteria and ensure wholesome shellfish.
The courses are part of a collaborative effort between the Coastal Resources Center/Rhode Island Sea Grant at URI, the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, and Roger Williams University. The lead instructor will be Dr. Robert Rheault, an aquaculture industry expert. Work is funded by NOAA’s National Sea Grant program.
Vibrios are naturally-occurring bacteria that are common in warm sea water and can cause food-born illness in shellfish consumers. Shellfish harvesters and farmers need to understand the importance of keeping shellfish cool to prevent the proliferation of Vibrios to ensure that shellfish are safe. This is particularly true for shellfish that are destined for raw consumption. While it is also important for shellfish dealers, restaurants and consumers to keep shellfish cold, harvesters have a critical role in ensuring that Vibrios are controlled at the source. It is important that harvesters and farmers understand the new Vibrio control regulations so we can protect public health and maintain the outstanding reputation of Rhode Island shellfish in the marketplace.
Courses are free and open to the public however space is limited so registration is encouraged. Drop-ins permitted as space allows. The course will be offered on three separate days; participants are only required to attend one of the days.
January, 28th, 2016, 6:00-8:00pm, URI/GSO Narragansett Bay Campus, Hazards Room, Coastal Institute building. Click here to register for 1/28 class.
February 17th, 2016, 6:00-8:00pm, URI/GSO Narragansett bay Campus, Large Conference Room, Coastal Institute building. Click here to register for 2/17 class.
March 14th, 2016, 6:00-8:00pm, Roger Williams University, Room 200 in the Marine and Natural Science Building. Click here to register for 3/14 class.
For more information, please contact Dr. Rheault (bob@ecsga.org) or Azure Cygler (azure@crc.uri.edu).
Shared on Behalf of Roger Williams University Center for Economic and Environmental Development
Applied Shellfish Farming Course at RWU to Equip Commercial Shellfish Farmers
“The Roger Williams University Center for Economic and Environmental Development is now enrolling students for Applied Shellfish Farming, a non-credit course offered during the winter/spring semester that teaches both aspiring shellfish farmers and aquaculture professionals the ins and outs of commercially growing oysters, quahogs, and other shellfish species”
To view the 2016 course information click here.
Pre-registration is preferred by contacting Cheryl Francis at (401) 254-3110 or cfrancis@rwu.edu. For more information about the course and a NOAA-funded effort to expand the reach of this course in 2017 through online sessions, please visit: http://www.rismp.org/education/