Summer 2015 stakeholder meeting recap

The meeting was recorded and is available for viewing at LiveStream:
http://livestream.com/accounts/4896157/events/4154327

Presentations and meeting info is available on the SMP website at: http://www.rismp.org/calendar/past-meetings-and-events/

A special thanks to the following individuals:

Perry Raso, owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar who donated oysters & clams for our shucking demonstration. Can we say “Yum!?”

Bob Rheault from the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association for teaching us how to shuck safely and for offering important tips for keeping shellfish cold and safe for consumption. I hope you have all been buying local shellfish and practicing at home!

Matt Griffin from Roger Williams University, Center for Economic & Environmental Development for presenting valuable and interesting science on shellfish restoration efforts in the state.

Maria Vasta, recent graduate of the URI Marine Affairs Program, for sharing her thesis work investigating agritourism potential for shellfish aquaculture through a nation-wide survey of growers.

 

Shellfish Management Plan (SMP) Stakeholder Meeting

Come join us for the 2015 SMP stakeholder meeting

 Please join us for a Shellfish Management Plan (SMP) Stakeholder Meeting
Thursday, June 25th, 2015, 5:00-7:00pm
Corless Auditorium, URI Bay Campus (map attached)

Want to learn how to safely shuck a clam and oyster?

Interested in growing oysters at your dock?

Wondering how you can go clamming with an expert this summer?

All this info and more at our next SMP stakeholder meeting!

Come hear progress since the launch of the SMP in November, including work on implementing the SMP recommendations, more shellfish research money available for 2016, clamming classes hosted by DEM, what you need to know/do to keep your shellfish safe for consumption, and a feature presentation on the ins and outs of shellfish restoration in Rhode Island. As a special treat, learn from a long-time quahogger how to properly shuck shellfish – Live demo and tasting included! We will also hear a URI students thesis results

Fruit, cookies, and beverages will be provided. Please rsvp to smp@etal.uri.edu. Feel free to call Azure at (401)874-6197 if you have any questions/concerns.

 

 

Invitation to attend the NECAN ocean acidification stakeholders workshop for Rhode Island

Date: June 5, 2015
Time:
9am to 4pm
Location
: University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Coastal Institute Building
218 South Ferry Rd., Narragansett RI, 02882

The Northeast Coastal Acidification Network (NECAN) and local partners, the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency, would like to invite you to participate in a workshop on coastal water issues having to do with Ocean and Coastal Acidification (OCA) that could affect the livelihood and future of fishing, aquaculture, and other coastal communities in Rhode Island.

The purpose of this workshop is for stakeholders to become better informed about OCA and for NECAN to gain knowledge from the stakeholders in order to develop an implementation plan for addressing OCA in the Northeast.

You are being invited as a representative of your:

·         Industry as a key leader in fishing, lobstering, or shellfish harvesting

·         Industry as a key leader in an aquaculture business

·         Agency or organization working on water quality or marine resources

The purpose of this workshop is to inform and learn from fishermen, aquaculturists, and coastal water quality groups regarding Ocean and Coastal Acidification.

Participants will: gain an understanding of the basic science of ocean and coastal acidification science, and the impacts to marine resources and ecosystem; discuss the potential for best practices leading to adaptation; help us understand what the priorities should be for monitoring and research; and have access to reliable resources.

There is no cost to attend and per-registration is required.  To sign up, click here.  Please note that filling out this form is not a formal reservation.  We will contact you about your registration status shortly.  Lunch will be provided.

The day will include an overview presentation on the state of the science of ocean and coastal acidification, presentations from local industry representatives, and breakout sessions to hear more about changes you are seeing on the water, and what NECAN should focus on moving forward.

More information about NECAN can be found at www.neracoos.org/necan.

We welcome your participation and hope you are able to attend,

Cassie Stymiest, NERACOOS
On behalf of NECAN and Partners

Please contact us if you need more information:

Cassie Stymiest, cassie@neracoos.org

 

 

Coastal Acidification Workshop

Shared on behalf of Rhode Island Sea Grant

Coastal Acidification Workshop

Rhode Island Sea Grant is pleased to support the June 5 Ocean and Coastal Acidification (OCA) Workshop for Rhode Island. This event is sponsored by The Northeast Coastal Acidification Network (NECAN) and local partners, the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, and the Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of this workshop is for stakeholders (e.g., fishing, aquaculture, water quality/marine resources management/NGO) to become better informed about OCA and for NECAN to gain knowledge from the stakeholders in order to develop an implementation plan for addressing OCA in the Northeast. If you are interested in attending this workshop, please see the attached invitation and agenda.

Please direct any questions to Cassie Stymiest, cassie@neracoos.org

Spring 2015 SMP Newsletter

Welcome and long-live the long-awaited SPRING! We hope you’re all bustling like birds and bees with house, farm, and fishing projects. We’ve all survived the winter and now it’s time to look ahead to bright and productive spring & summer seasons!

On the SMP front, work has continued. Some news to share:

    • The SMP Implementation Team, composed of state and industry leaders, is hard at work developing a strategy to make your SMP recommendations happen.
    • A SMP stakeholder meeting will be held on Thurs. June 25th, 5:00-7:00pm in Corless Auditorium on the URI Bay Campus to discuss the SMP Implementation of recommendations,research opportunities, and upcoming events. Feature presentation on shellfish restoration work by RWU’s Matt Griffin.
    • The SMP Team is working hard in partnership with our state and national leadership to formally launch a Rhode Island Shellfish Initiative, in alignment with NOAA’s National Shellfish Initiative. A state initiative will keep the focus and momentum on shellfish resources, industries, and local seafood promotion in the state as well as generate new and exciting synergies and opportunities.
    • RI DEM, the wild harvest shellfish industry, and the Department of Health successfully crafted new shellfish handling regulations to help maintain the excellent reputation for quality and safety of Rhode Island-harvested shellfish. Full regulations can be found here on page 26.
    • Rhode Island Sea Grant is offering funding for 2016-2018 research projects related
      to: a) improved understanding of shellfish stock assessment and populations, and b) impacts of climate change on finfish and shellfish in Narragansett Bay. More info can be found here; proposals are due June 1st.
    • Be sure to join the shellfish community and our state leadership on May 28th, 11:30am- 5:00pm for Agriculture Day at the State House in Providence. Amongst the festivities & food, the winners of this year’s Local Agriculture and Seafood Act (LASA) grants will be announced.
    • Looking down the pike, some events to mark on your calendars: The 4th Annual  Quahoggers Jamboree on June 24th from 5-8pm at the Warwick Library; 2nd Annual Oyster Festival on June 21st @ 11am in Bristol ; August 7/8/9th is the annual Charlestown Seafood Festival; Sept. 12/13th is the Rhode Island Seafood Festival in Galilee; and Sept.19th is the Ocean State Oyster Festival in Providence.  These are only some of the many shellfish-related events sure to happen this summer. Stay tuned; we’ll post more as we hear of them. If you have an event to share, please email us!
    • Summer season is approaching which means digging your own shellfish! Remember to KEEP IT COLD! Bring ice packs and a cooler with you to the clam flats, do not leave shellfish in a hot car, and refrigerate in a dry bowl when you return home. Cold shellfish are safe shellfish!
    • RI DEM will be carrying on the SMP tradition and hosting three “Clamming 101” classes this summer. Dates to be decided; contact Kim.Sullivan@DEM.RI.Gov for more info and to sign up.
    • Reminder: In February, the RI DEM Office of Water Resources’ Shellfish Program went live with a new and improved website, complete with an interactive shellfish map and new email address going directly to shellfish program staff to better respond to missing/damaged signs or data requests. The email: dem.shellfish@dem.ri.gov and website.

Remember, the SMP document can be found at: http://www.rismp.org/the-plan/.  There will be future opportunity to update the SMP; we’ll keep you posted. Hope to see you soon! As always, feel free to contact us or stop by to share news/events/concerns. smp@etal.uri.edu or 401.874.6197.

Thank you,
The SMP Team

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