Opportunity for Northeast Shellfish Farmers to Test New Aquaculture Gear

The Northeast Aquaculture Research Farm Network (NARF-Net) currently is soliciting shellfish farms to participate in a research and demonstration project.

The project is a group effort of the Northeast Aquaculture Extension Network and is based on a research and farm demonstration model originally conceived and developed by Cape Cod Cooperative Extension and Woods Hole Sea Grant.

The project includes the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York; it is proposed that up to five shellfish farms per state be invited to participate. Collaborating farms will be asked to provide space and assistance in testing new shellfish aquaculture technologies and to help demonstrate those technologies to the industry-at-large in their region. In return, the farms will receive equipment and support to install and operate the new technology and a small stipend for participating in the research. One farm in each state will be asked to host a demonstration farm day, where the new technology will be featured in a small open house workshop.

Technologies to be tested include using a “flip bag” oyster culture strategy in year 1 and growing quahogs in hydroponic media using a conventional oyster bag in year 2.  The two-year program is funded by the NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Extension and Technology Transfer program.

If you are interested in participating, please contact your state Aquaculture Extension Agent (listed below) for more details.

Maine – Dana Morse (dana.morse@maine.edu)
New Hampshire – Michael Chambers (Michael.Chambers@unh.edu)
Massachusetts – Diane Murphy (dmurphy@whoi.edu)
Rhode Island – Dale Leavitt (dleavitt@rwu.edu) or Azure Cygler (azure@crc.uri.edu)
Connecticut – Tessa Getchis (tessa.getchis@uconn.edu)
New York – Gregg Rivara (gjr3@cornell.edu)
NARF-Net Coordinators – Dale Leavitt (dleavitt@rwu.edu) and Matt Griffin (mgriffin@rwu.edu)

Harvesters Help Find Quahogs

From Rhode Island Sea Grant

Dale Leavitt, a researcher and faculty member at Roger Williams University, has calibrated bullrakes used by commercial clam harvesters to compare assessments made by hydraulic dredges used by RI Department of Environmental Management to assess population.

This is the first part of research to better understand where quahogs in the Bay come from and travel to manage potential spawning and settlement areas.

“We wanted to look at assessment tools to take advantage of the commercial fishing fleet and see if there was an alternative for stock assessment,” said Leavitt in a presentation at the Shellfish Management Plan stakeholder meeting in April. “But we needed to see if a bullrake could be used to give accurate measurements.”

The trick, Leavitt said, is knowing how much of the bottom was sampled by a bullrake to make accurate comparisons with a hydraulic dredge used by RI DEM. In order to do that, Leavitt has found a way to “calibrate” harvesters so their data seamlessly meshed with those of RI DEM.

This new methodology allows commercial quahoggers to collect scientifically valid population assessment data and present that for use in official state stock assessments.

Research will continue this summer and will also look at circulation patters to predict quahog dispersal.

This project is supported by RI Sea Grant, the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation (CFRF) and the Southern New England Collaborative Research Initiative (SNECRI).

Toxic Algae and Oyster Disease in Narragansett Bay Presentation on March 26th

Coastal State Discussion Series: Toxic Algae and Oyster Disease in Narragansett Bay

Rhode Island researchers discuss impacts of emerging algal species and marine disease that may impact the state’s seafood and water resources.

Two potential threats have emerged in Narragansett Bay waters that raise concern for both the health of Rhode Island waters and the overall state of the seafood industry.

Researchers David Borkman, marine plankton expert at the University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography, and Roxanna Smolowitz, shellfish and fish disease expert at Roger Williams University, will discuss findings of a new harmful algae species and an oyster parasite in the second event of the Coastal State Discussion Series on Wednesday, March 26, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the University Club on URI’s Kingston campus.

Borkman has been studying marine plankton in Narragansett Bay for several decades and has found a new species of algae in R.I. waters, the third observation of this species on the East Coast and the first in New England. He will discuss his findings and studies of this highly toxic species and what its presence may mean for the health of the Bay.

Smolowitz will discuss her work that looks at the transmission and impact of a new parasitic disease in the eastern oyster. This parasite has been linked to the death of oysters in Martha’s Vineyard, and its presence in Rhode Island shows a potential for significant infection of eastern oyster farms, impacting the state’s $2 million oyster industry.

This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited, so please contact Meredith Haas at mmhaas@mail.uri.edu to reserve a place or for more information. The University Club is located on Upper College Road on URI’s Kingston Campus.

The Coastal State series is sponsored by Rhode Island Sea Grant and the URI Coastal Institute with the support of the URI Graduate School of Oceanography and the URI College of the Environment and Life Sciences. This lecture is also supported by the Rhode lsland Shellfish Management Plan.

Rhode Island Sea Grant is located at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography. For more information, visit seagrant.gso.uri.edu.

RIDEM: “Rules and Regulations Governing the Rhode Island Seafood Brand and the Mislabeling of Marine Species”

Attached please find proposed “Rules and Regulations Governing the Rhode Island Seafood Brand and the Mislabeling of Marine Species” and a public hearing notice for August 27, 2013, 6 pm, at the URI Graduate School of Oceanography, Corliss Auditorium, South Ferry Road, Narragansett, RI. Kindly distribute within the Rhode Island fishing community. Written comments may be submitted concerning the regulations proposed for promulgation to the Division of Agriculture, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI by 12:00 pm on August 27, 2013. There will be an informal question and answer period immediately following the public hearing at Corliss Auditorium on August 27th, and you may discuss informally with DEM in advance of the public hearing by contacting Ken Ayars, Chief, Division of Agriculture (222-2781 ext. 4500, ken.ayars@dem.ri.gov), Pete Susi, Deputy Chief, Division of Agriculture (222-2781 ext. 4517, peter.susi@dem.ri.gov), or Robert Ballou, Assistant to the Director (222-4700 ext. 4420, robert.ballou@dem.ri.gov).   

A copy of the proposed regulations can be requested by mail or are available at the Division of Agriculture, RIDEM, located at 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908. Electronic copies of the proposed regulations are available on the DEM website at the following web address: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/agricult/pdf/cfoodpn.pdf. The RI Seafood Brand to which the regulations pertain is attached, please be advised this brand has been trademarked by DEM.

A point of clarification regarding the proposed regulations:  the monetary penalties in Section 8.00(1) pertain only to violations of Section 7.00 regarding the mislabeling of marine species. The penalty proposed for any person improperly using the seafood logo or brand is limited to the suspension or revocation of the authorization or right to use the brand.

Ken Ayars, Chief
Division of Agriculture, RIDEM

To view or download: DEM Proposed Regulations.

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