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Rhode Island Seafood Challenge 2015

Shared on behalf of Rhode Island Sea Grant

2015 Rhode Island Seafood Challenge

You are cordially invited to attend the
Rhode Island Seafood Challenge 2015.

The event is free, but seating is limited and a reservation is required.

DATE: Friday, April 10, 2015
TIME: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
LOCATION: Johnson & Wales University, Harborside Campus
Harborside Academic Center Amphitheater
265 Harborside Boulevard, Providence, R.I. 02905

DETAILS:

For the second year in row, the Johnson & Wales University College of Culinary Arts (JWU) hosts the Rhode Island Seafood Challenge in partnership with the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation and Rhode Island Sea Grant.

This year, the focus of the Challenge is scup, also known as porgy, an underutilized species that is plentiful in the waters along the Atlantic coast, but not commonly found in local restaurants or prepared by home cooks.

Three teams of JWU culinary students will create, present, and test original recipes using scup, with a guest audience of other JWU students and the public. The audience will have the chance to taste each of the recipes and vote for their favorite. In addition, guest speakers, along with a panel of representatives from Rhode Island’s commercial fishing industry, will address the issues of sustainability which are vital to the region’s food system.

The Rhode Island Seafood Challenge was established in 2014 as an interactive and entertaining opportunity for JWU culinary students to learn about local and sustainable seafood products, and those involved in bringing them to market; incorporate these products into their culinary repertoire; and, gain an understanding of the conscious impact they, as future foodservice professionals, can make upon their communities and environment, and the seafood industry. By introducing an underutilized seafood species, the Challenge is another way to show that Johnson & Wales University is changing the way America eats.

RSVP REQUIRED

For more information and to make a reservation to attend the Rhode Island Seafood Challenge 2015, contact Rhode Island Sea Grant at (401) 874-6800 or email studentrisg@gmail.com.

An important note about event parking – Johnson & Wales University requires parking permits for all guest vehicles. Upon the completion of your RSVP, you will be issued a parking pass and driving directions. There is no charge for parking.

The Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) is a non-profit, private foundation dedicated to supporting collaborative research carried out by members of the commercial fishing industry and scientists to achieve sustainable fisheries. Rhode Island Sea Grant is based at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, and supports research, outreach, and education programs designed to foster vibrant coastal communities, resilient marine environments, and the sustainable use of marine resources.

DEM ANNOUNCES THE RE-OPENING OF SHELLFISH WATERS IN BRISTOL HARBOR

News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771   www.dem.ri.gov

For Release:  March 18, 2015
Contact: Town of Bristol: Jose DaSilva, 401-253-8877
DEM: Gail Mastrati 401-222-4700 Ext. 2402; or
Cindy Hannus, 401-222-4700 Ext. 7241

 

DEM ANNOUNCES THE RE-OPENING OF SHELLFISH WATERS IN BRISTOL HARBOR BEGINNING AT SUNRISE THURSDAY, MARCH 19

PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management has announced that the waters of Bristol Harbor and waters in the vicinity of Hog Island that were closed to shellfishing due to a failure in the disinfection system at the Bristol Wastewater Treatment Plant are scheduled to re-open at sunrise Thursday, March 19.

Specifically, waters North and East of a line from the southern tip of Poppasquash Point, Bristol to Southwest Point on Hog Island and from the southwest point of Hog Island to the southwestern extremity of Arnold Point in Portsmouth, where a DEM range marker has been established. Those waters classified as Prohibited in the area in accordance with RIDEM’s May 2014 -2015 shellfish closure map remain closed to shellfishing.  Aquaculturists in the areas that will reopen on March 19 can resume normal operations of their leases at sunrise tomorrow.

The DEM collected water samples to test for fecal coliform bacteria in response to this emergency closure with the Bristol Harbor Master on Tuesday, March17.  Results from the Rhode Island Department of Health’s laboratory analysis indicate that these waters are now suitable for the harvesting of shellfish.

A DEM investigation of the failure is continuing. The facility is currently operating normally.

For more information on the plant failure, contact Bristol Wastewater Treatment Facility superintendent Jose DaSilva at 401-253-8877.

For more information about the shellfish closure, contact Joseph Migliore in DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 222-4700 extension 7258.

DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline with recorded updated information on shellfish closure areas.  That number is 222-2900.   

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Speaker Addition to the Coastal State Discussion Series

Coastal State Discussion Series welcomes Dr. Kathy Castro

as additional speaker

Dr. Kathy Castro, a fisheries scientist specializing in lobster ecology at the University of Rhode Island and who runs the university’s Fisheries Center, has been studying the effects of lobster shell disease for over 15 years. The disease spread rapidly in Rhode Island and continues to expand north where it could also have a dramatic effect on the iconic Maine fishery.Dr. Castro will join Dr. Rowley as a speaker on Monday, March 23 for the Coastal State Discussion Series to present ongoing work testing Dr. Rowley’s probiotic hypothesis to fight lobster shell disease that is thought to be linked to a new bacterium found in local waters. “The results showed promise for both the freshwater and the probiotic treatment,” Castro says.

 

Click here to find the full event details.

DEM ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY SHELLFISH CLOSURE IN BRISTOL HARBOR

News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771   www.dem.ri.gov

For Release:  March 16, 2015
Contact: Town of Bristol: Jose DaSilva, 401-253-8877
DEM: Gail Mastrati 401-222-4700 Ext. 2402; or
Cindy Hannus, 401-222-4700 Ext. 7241

DEM ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY SHELLFISH CLOSURE IN BRISTOL HARBOR BEGINNING SUNRISE TUESDAY, MARCH 17 DUE TO REPORTED SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANT DISINFECTION MALFUNCTION

PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management has announced that in addition to currently Prohibited waters within Bristol Harbor and surrounding Hog Island, the remaining waters of Bristol Harbor and in the vicinity of Hog Island (see attached map) will be closed to shellfish harvesting beginning at sunrise Tuesday, March 17, until further notice.  The closure is being enacted because of information provided to DEM by the Town of Bristol of a lack of disinfection that resulted in elevated bacteria levels in plant effluent.  A town official notified DEM this morning of the issue and it is being investigated.

The Bristol Harbor Master will collect water samples in Bristol Harbor on Tuesday to test for fecal coliform bacteria levels.  The DEM will make a determination on the duration of the closure based upon the Department’s review of those sample results.

Specifically, all waters North and East of a line from the Southern tip of Poppasquash Point, Bristol to the Southwestern extremity of Arnold Point in Portsmouth, where a DEM range marker has been established, will be closed to shellfish harvesting beginning at sunrise on March 17, until further notice.  Refer to the attached map as reference.

In addition, to accommodate previously scheduled delivery of oyster seed, all aquaculturists in areas where the emergency shellfish closures have been enacted will be allowed access to their leases for the purposes of preparing for and planting the oyster seed.  All other activities on the aquaculture lease, including but not limited to the harvest of shellfish, will remain prohibited until the water quality is acceptable to allow for harvest.

Aquaculturists seeking permission to prepare for or plant seed under this emergency authorization are required to contact Dave Beutel, CRMC’s aquaculture coordinator at 401-783-7587.

A DEM investigation of the failure is underway.  The facility is currently operating normally.  For more information on the plant disinfection failure, contact the Bristol Wastewater Treatment Facility superintendent, Jose DaSilva, at 401-253-8877.

For more information about the shellfish closure, contact Cindy Hannus in DEM’s Office of Water Resources at 401-222-4700, Ext. 7241.

DEM maintains a 24-hour shellfishing hotline with recorded updated information on shellfish closure areas.  That number is 222-2900.

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To see the official press release, please click here.

Developing Disease Resistant Oysters

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PLEASE JOIN US 

for refreshments and a discussion of the role probiotics may play in protecting juvenile oysters from harmful bacteria.

Guest speaker Dr. David Rowley of the University of Rhode Island has been studying the effects of probiotics, “good bacteria,” for reducing mortality in larval oysters, and will discuss the results from his most recent work and the potential implications for Rhode Island’s shellfish industry.

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Developing Disease-Resistant Oysters

Monday, March 23
5-7 p.m.

Coastal Institute Auditorium
URI Narragansett Bay Campus | South Ferry Rd | Narragansett 02882

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Dr. David Rowley, associate professor of biomedical sciences and pharmaceutical sciences at the University of Rhode Island, has explored natural pathways for combating disease outbreaks in shellfish, specifically the eastern oyster because of the high mortality rates in cultured and wild populations due to bacterial and parasitic diseases.

These diseases affect larval and juvenile stages of oyster growth, and are a major problem for the shellfish aquaculture industry.

Dr. Rowley will share successful results in his lab research studying the effects of probiotics — bacteria that promote disease-resistance — for reducing mortality rates in larval oyster, as well as results from exploring their application in oyster hatcheries that could have implications for Rhode Island’s shellfish aquaculture industry.

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RSVP

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so please RSVP to mmhaas@uri.edu  to reserve a place or for more information.

The Coastal State series is sponsored by Rhode Island Sea Grant with the support of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences, and the URI Coastal Institute. 

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