June 19th Webinar: Social Media Tips for Direct Marketing of Farmed Seafood

Shared on behalf of the National Sea Grant Law Center

A Social Media Tips for Direct Marketing Aquaculture Products webinar will be held June 19th, 2014 at 5:00 pm. Speakers will provide information on how to use social media to sell aquaculture products directly to customers and the legal issues associated with this marketing.

To watch please click here! Use the meeting number: 195 528 184 to tune in.

Audio connection is also available at 1-415-655-0001.

Rhode Island Seafood Challenge: Chowder Cookoff – April 4th

The 2014 Rhode Island Seafood Challenge puts Johnson & Wales University culinary students to the test making Rhode Island-style clam chowder

Join us for the 2014 Rhode Island Seafood Challenge—a chowder cookoff at Johnson & Wales University (JWU) on Friday, April 4, from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. [Reservations required; see below.]

Three teams of JWU culinary students will prepare their own original recipes for Rhode Island-style clam chowder for a guest audience of other JWU students and the public. The audience will get to taste each of the chowders and vote for their favorite. The winning team will be featured on NBC 10’s Cooking with Class with Chef Frank Terranova.

In addition to the recipe challenge, experts will present talks on Rhode Island’s seafood industry and food safety. Speakers will include Ken Ayars, chief of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Agriculture, Chris Lee, director at Sea Fresh, a seafood processor and wholesaler in North Kingstown, R.I., and Lori Pivarnik, coordinator of the University of Rhode Island’s Food Safety Outreach/Research Program in the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences.

“Incorporating fresh, local ingredients is a focus of the Wellness and Sustainability concentration that many of our students are studying. This competition is a way to share that with the public while challenging our students to experiment with this great locally available seafood,” said William Idell, department chair in the JWU College of Culinary Arts.

Fresh clams will be donated by Atlantic Capes Fisheries in Bristol, R.I.

This event will be held at the JWU Harborside Campus Amphitheater. Seating is limited. This event is free, but advance reservations are required by contacting Rhode Island Sea Grant at (401) 874-6800 or kellibutler@etal.uri.edu.

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.

RSVP for Chart Chats–Informing Rhode Island Use Maps Meeting on June 13th

Chart Chats: Informing ‘User Maps’ with Your Activities on the Water

Thursday, June 13th, 2013, 5pm to 7pm
Warwick Public Library, 600 Sandy Lane. Warwick, RI 02889

Click here for Chart Chats Meeting Information in PDF format.

Please join team members of the Rhode Island Shellfish Management Plan (SMP) during the Warwick Public Library’s Second Annual Quahoggers Jamboree. The SMP team will have an informal display of user maps. These maps were created in coordination with stakeholders through a series of public meetings over the past several months with the goal of illustrating the many different uses of our bays and ponds to minimize user conflict. Here’s your chance to view these maps, suggest changes or additions, and guide the next phase of the effort.

WHEN: Thursday, June 13th, 5pm-7pm (Open house–please drop in at any time!)
WHERE: Warwick Public Library, Small Meeting Room
Please RSVP to smp@etal.uri.edu and include the meeting date.

This meeting coincides with Warwick’s Second Annual Quahoggers Jamboree. The Jamboree, which is also at the Warwick Public Library on Thursday, June 13th, 2013 will run from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. You must register online for this event at http://www.warwicklibrary.org/.

1 2 3