R.I. Shellfish Management Plan to be celebrated

NARRAGANSETT – A celebration of Rhode Island’s first Shellfish Management Plan, an analysis of one of the state’s signature industries, will be held Nov. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the University of Rhode Island Coastal Institute on the University of Rhode Island Bay Campus.

The work of the Shellfish Management Plan stakeholders, who have been researching environmental and economic impacts of the state’s shellfishing industry, will be recognized at the free and public event.

“Shellfishing is part and parcel of the Rhode Island way of life, and has been for centuries,” the plan’s introduction states.

It said that in 2012, wild harvesters made more than $7 million selling their product to wholesalers, and that in 2013, oysters sold from aquaculture farms were valued at more than $4 million.

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The plan suggests enhancing the marketing of Rhode Island’s natural resources, keeping industries viable and productive, restoring critical shellfish habitat and ensuring proper ways for handling and storing shellfish.

“The ultimate goal here is to make sure people can maximize and enjoy shellfish resources in a way that will continue to be central to our state’s cultural identity and economic future,” Janet Coit, director of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management, who helped lead the study, said in a statement. “We’re doing the best we can together to make the SMP as responsive as possible. That means lots of old-fashioned conversations to build trust and foster better understanding of the benefits, challenges and opportunities ahead. It’s an exciting time.”

Integrating current shellfish research into the management process will be a key activity in 2015.

Rhode Island Shellfishermen’s Association President Michael McGiveney said the process of SMP development has been positive, in that it has “helped the fishing industry better understand why certain management measures are in place. We may not agree with everything, but at least we understand how and why these laws were put in place, and were glad our voices were heard.”

The SMP process was initiated to provide comprehensive policy guidance regarding management and protection measures for shellfish, such as quahogs and oysters, located in state marine waters.

The quahog is Rhode Island’s official state shellfish.

Throughout the process, stakeholders, which include representatives of the wild harvest, aquaculture and restoration communities, as well as researchers and managers, have been involved in identifying policies and practices to restore shellfish resources and enhance the economic vitality of the shellfishing industry. As new research and information becomes available, the plan will be updated.

The R.I.Department of Environmental Management, the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council and the R.I. Department of Health will be responsible for administration of the plan.

The plan also is educating consumers on shellfish diseases.

“Cooperation and communication are key,” R.I. Department of Health Director Michael Fine said in prepared remarks. “The new information from the SMP as well as the interagency collaboration is already protecting the health and safety of all Rhode Islanders and our guests.”

The University of Rhode Island Coastal Resources Center and the Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography provided key assistance for SMP development. The Coastal Resources Center facilitated plan research, development and community outreach, and Rhode Island Sea Grant is supporting SMP research with a $1.2 million grant to support scientific study of shellfish.

The SMP project also was supported by the URI College of Environmental Sciences, Roger Williams University, the URI Coastal Institute and the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. Funders are the Prospect Hill Foundation, the Rhode Island Foundation, the van Beuren Charitable Foundation and the Sharpe Family Foundation/Henry and Peggy Sharpe.

Input also has been provided by the Rhode Island Shellfishermen’s Association and the Ocean State Aquaculture Association.

A raw bar and special video screening will be part of the festivities on Nov. 17. RSVPs are required at smp-celebration.eventbrite.com.

The full RI Shellfish Management Plan is available here.

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