Tag: quahog

2015 Bristol Harbor Volunteer Quahog Transplant

Shared on behalf of:

RI Department of Environmental Management
Division of Fish and Wildlife – Marine Fisheries Section
http://www.dem.ri.gov (401)423-1923 or (401)423-1932

THE 2015 BRISTOL HARBOR VOLUNTEER QUAHOG TRANSPLANT
TUESDAY MAY 12, 2015

Shellfishermen that participate in the program will harvest the quahogs from closed sections of Bristol Harbor. The shellfishermen will then transport the quahogs to the Bristol Harbor Shellfish Management Area, and dump the clams directly from their own vessel.

  • The transplant will operate from the Independence Park Boat Ramp in Bristol and will take place between 8 a.m. and noon.
  • Shellfishermen wishing to take part in the transplantshould report to the on-scene DEM enforcement patrol
  • Transplanted shellfish will be unavailable for harvest until December 2015.boat by 8 a.m. on the day of the transplant. The officers will collect licenses of all those participating.

A special thank to RI Shellfish Management Plan publication contributors.

On behalf of the SMP Team, we’d like to thank you for a successful and fun Final Event Celebration!

On Nov.17th, many gathered at the URI Bay Campus to celebrate the newly-released R.I. Shellfish Management Plan (affectionately called the SMP), a hallmark effort to improve management and science around shellfish in the state. With over 100 people in attendance, including Governor Lincoln Chafee, Senator Sosnowski, and dignitaries from our state agencies and universities, as well as the valuable presence of industry groups and citizens alike, it was an event to remember. The event was intended to be celebratory, to appreciate the monumental efforts of many individuals and groups who shaped the plan and its management and science recommendations. Good vibes and words were shared by all.

But one thing was missing from the festivities: A proper thank you to a few individuals who really were the glue behind the SMP. Unfortunately, in an attempt to keep comments brief and allow plenty of time to mingle and share kind words, we did not properly acknowledge these few individuals – As a backdrop, it is important to emphasize that behind the scenes, almost weekly for the last two years, have been five people who have helped sort through what we hear, what issues arise, what needs surface, and what actions should be taken. These individuals were Dale Leavitt (RWU), Jeff Mercer (DEM), Dave Beutel (CRMC), Monique LaFrance (GSO) and Jen McCann (CRC/RI SG). What some may not realize, which I want to impress upon you all now, is that without these folks, the SMP and all its early successes would not have happened.

It was Dale’s knowledge, experience and ability to see opportunity in any concern or issue that helped bring this SMP to life, infusing science and real-world application which lent validity, perspective, and integrity to the process and outcomes. Jeff has offered intense time and efforts on the SMP, showing industry that DEM has been listening and translating tough policies and decisions.—Jeff’s ability to work across multiple sectors of the shellfish community has brought tangible benefits to management and science.—Dave’s thoroughness in assuring a sound aquaculture management process in this state in conjunction with his belief and willingness to reach over agency lines to collaborate on important topics, has proven fruitful; Dave has been a steady island in a sea of positive changes for aquaculture, keeping people on firm ground during tough processes.—Monique’s integral efforts throughout the SMP on work such as the use maps and critical writing, has helped ensure the outcomes make sense and are tractable. And it is through Jen’s support and sound leadership that the SMP process remained true to its principles and vision of openness and broad stakeholder involvement.

And a special thank you to those in the industry – wild harvest and aquaculture – who continue to donate their time and experience to not only the SMP process, but to management overall, lending real-world knowledge and creative thinking to make this a truly democratic process.

At the event, a few individuals were recognized and received awards for giving 110% to the SMP process. Congratulations to: Mike McGiveney, Robert Rheault, Jody King, Katie Eagan, Art Ganz, Jim Arnoux, and the Rhode Island Shellfishermen’s Association for their exceptional service and contribution to shellfish.

And shout outs to all the many who made this Plan possible – THANK YOU!

Without all these folks meeting and giving their hearts and souls these last two years, we would simply be where we started in 2013: Wanting reform but with no road to get there. So thank you SMP Team – Your energy and skills are invaluable to this state!

Please visit http://www.rismp.org/the-plan/ to view the RI Shellfish Management Plan, Version II, and associated appendices. Please remember this is a living document and we encourage your feedback and comments. In 2015, CRC/RI Sea Grant will work with DEM and CRMC to develop an Implementation Plan, a Research Agenda, and activate on some of the recommendations in the SMP. We will also review and add new information to the SMP as it becomes available and will keep you updated through this listserv. Press and the SMP video will soon be posted on the website, so check back often.

Other information on the website:

If you would like to receive a copy of Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage: An Ecological History, available in 2015, please send an email to: smp@etal.uri.edu

Keep up the excellent work and dedication everyone – We look forward to working with you in 2015!

DEM’s Shellfish Regulation Reform Initiative

Shared on Behalf of the RI Department of Environmental Management

DEM’s Shellfish Regulation Reform Initiative

Through May 2014, DEM’s regulations governing marine fisheries had been comprised of twenty-one (21) separate regulations, or “Parts.” Of these, six (6) Parts addressed shellfish, totaling approximately 66 pages. They were:

  • Part IV — Shellfish;
  • Part V — Bay Scallops;
  • Part VI — Dredging for Shellfish;
  • Part VIII — Oyster Regulations;
  • Part IX — Shellfish Buyer’s License – Statutes;
  • Part XVIII — Shellfish Grounds.

Much of the regulatory provisions set forth in these 66 pages involved duplicative language, conflicting and/or inaccurate language, non-regulatory programmatic language, non-prescriptive statutory language, and references to repealed statutory provisions. The regulations were, at best, difficult to read and challenging to understand. To address these issues, DEM launched a regulatory reform initiative aimed at streamlining, correcting, and clarifying all of the marine fisheries regulations, beginning with shellfish. The initiative involved a lot of regulatory revisions, but no substantive regulatory changes.

As it turns out, one of the early recommendations that emerged from the SMP process was to improve the clarity and readability of DEM’s shellfish regulations. The timing was perfect, in that DEM had already launched its regulatory reform initiative, with shellfish as the first phase. The initiative took on enhanced meaning and purpose, thanks to the nudge from the SMP process.

Results: 

On May 8, 2014, DEM completed the regulatory review process for the revised shellfish regulations and filed with the RI Secretary of State final regulatory changes. Highlights of those changes included:

  • Reduction of the shellfish regulations from six (6) separate Parts into one regulatory document addressing all shellfish species (no longer called “Parts”; the single document is now simply called “RIMFR – Shellfish”)
  • Over 60% reduction in number of pages (from 66 to 26 pages)
  • Improved section titles reflecting actual contents of each section
  • Improved table of contents, listing all section titles (prior regulations identified just one section — “Regulations” — covering the entire document, making it impossible for the reader to navigate to a specific topic)
  • Reduction of long sections covering multiple topics into shorter, more concise paragraphs addressing single topics.
  • Removal of non-prescriptive statutory language (prior regulations included all statutory provisions authorizing the Director to enact regulations on various issues; placing such enabling authority into regulations yielded no information of value)
  • Removal of repealed and/or obsolete language;
  • Removal of penalty provisions and specific monetary amounts for violations; replaced with a general penalty and appeal provision (many of the penalties and/or monetary amounts for violations were drawn from obsolete statutes and were thus inaccurate; the authority for assessing penalties for violations of DEM marine fishery regulations lies with DEM’s Division of Law Enforcement , which utilizes a separate set of regulations for the exercise of that authority;
  • Enhance flow, readability, and clarity.

The new, streamlined shellfish regulations can be found on DEM’s Marine Fisheries website here!

September 29th – Give Input on the RI Shellfish Management Plan

Join Us on September 29th to Give Input on the RI Shellfish Management Plan

Please join us for a public meeting to discuss the RI Shellfish Management Plan (SMP) on Monday, September 29th, 5pm-7pm in Corless Auditorium at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. At this meeting, we will announce the completed Shellfish Management Plan ready for public review, discuss SMP progress and actions over the last year, glimpse into each chapter, and discuss future steps in an open forum. We also will hear summer highlights from industry leaders and get inspired from Director Coit. Refreshments will be served prior to the event. All are welcome, but space is limited so please RSVP to smp@etal.uri.edu

To view the SMP chapters currently available for public review, please click here. 

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Thank you to our partners and sponsors: Rhode Island Foundation, Sharpe Family Foundation, Prospect Hill Foundation, van Beuren CharitableFoundation, Rhode Island Department of Environment Management, Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute, University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center, and Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program.

For more information about the SMP, please click here.

The Secret Life of Whelks

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.

by Rudi Hempe
Photos by Melissa Devine

“Underwater, whelks are slow moving sea snails that like to pry open and devour quahogs. They are also the unlikely focus of a campaign by an energetic woman who catches them for a living to protect her chosen occupation.”

“Katie Eagan is a whelk fisherman, or as she and most of the other 200 – plus whelk fishermen in Rhode Island prefer to call themselves, a “conch fisherman,” even though the larger and quite different conchs live in far warmer waters down South.”

“At age 30, Eagan has fallen in love with a job that requires her to get up at dawn seven days a week to cruise parts of Narragansett Bay harvesting creatures that end up on plates in Asia and in the popular “snail salad” state side.”

Check out the full article here

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