Aquaculture in RI’s Shared Waters ~ Oct. 16    Rob Hudson, Rhode Island Sea Grant/URI CRC aquaculture specialist, talks RI aquaculture history, economics, and management Monday, October 16 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. Management of Rhode Island waters as a shared resource requires a balanced, science-based approach with input from many different invested groups and individuals. Aquaculture is one important activity in these shared waters and involves a thorough statewide planning process. Join Coastal Resources Center/Rhode Island Sea Grant’s fisheries and aquaculture specialist Rob Hudson to learn about the history and economics of aqaculture, how shared water resources are managed, and how to get involved. This event is intended to educate bay users across Rhode Island about aquaculture. For more information, contact Azure Cygler. This webinar will be recorded and posted to the Bay SAMP website .   This event is sponsored by the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council , the Coastal Resources Center, and Rhode Island Sea Grant .  Rhode Island Sea Grant University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Narragansett, RI 02882 Web: seagrant.gso.uri.edu [seagrant.gso.uri.edu]

The Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP) created a great StoryMap titled “Clean Water and Quahogs: Changes in Narragansett Bay“. You are able to learn about the historic closures to shellfish grounds and why some areas are closed to shellfishing. Through an interactive map you can compare years to see how the approved shellfishing grounds have changed over time and what is being done to open not only more areas but the number of days you can access your favorite spots. If you are interested in learning more about the shellfishing areas, you can checkout the post on this website “State Agencies Release Updates“

Within the last couple of weeks, both the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) and the Coastal Resources Management Councils (CRMC) have released annual reports. The Shellfish Area Monitoring page on RI DEM’s website has lots of useful information that you will need if you plan on harvesting shellfish from RI’s waters. One of the documents posted on the site is the “Notice of Polluted Shellfish Grounds” between this notices and the interactive map on the same page, you will know where you can shellfish safely. If you are interested in more details into the water classifications you can check out the annual “Shellfish Program Growing Area Classification Report ” the 2022 report can be found here.

CRMC has released their “Annual Aquaculture Report”, this report provides information on all things aquaculture related in the state. The reports can be found on CRMC’s Aquaculture site, as well as you can sign up for the RI Aquaculture Listserv. The RI Aquaculture Listserv is designed to provide email notification of aquaculture preliminary determination meetings, 30 day public notices, and other aquaculture related events in RI.

Funding Available to Address Seafood Systems Issues

If you are a member of the Rhode Island seafood industry – a processor, harvester, grower, wholesaler, retailer, or other seafood business – funding is available for research projects to address issues you may be facing.

If you have a concern or an idea for a research project that would address a seafood systems issue, please reach out to the Partnership for Research Excellence in Sustainable Seafood (PRESS). We will help you determine whether your idea is potentially eligible for funding through our grant, and will pair you up with a researcher from an eligible institution to help develop a short proposal. These proposals will be reviewed by topic-related experts to determine which projects will be funded.

Proposals are being accepted year-round in two areas:

Feasibility Projects—Funding of up to $30,000 is available for projects that seek to provide a proof of concept and/or will open the possibility for access to other funds. 

Operational Projects—Funding of up to $50,000 annually for up to three years is available for projects targeted at implementation or more thorough study of issues or problems to develop solutions.Larger requests (up to $100,000 per year) will be considered but must provide strong reasoning and show broad partnerships to support the need of the project.

Preproposals are required.Please see the RFP for all application requirements, procedures, and deadlines.

For more information, please contact Azure Cygler or Marta Gomez-Chiarri or visit the PRESS website.

This initiative was established through NOAA with funding secured by Senator Jack Reed, is spearheaded by Marta Gomez-Chiarri, professor of fisheries and aquaculture at the University of Rhode Island, and is guided by an interdisciplinary team of seafood industry professionals, government agencies, nonprofits, and researchers.

Rhode Island Sea Grant University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Narragansett, RI 02882