Azure Dee CyglerFisheries & Aquaculture Extension Specialist
Coastal Resources CenterRhode Island Sea GrantURI/ GSO401-874-6197 – [email protected]
R.I. Shellfish Management Plan
A Collaboration Between:
Commercial and Recreational shellfish harvesters… Shellfish Growers…
Coastal Resources Center/URI…
State and Federal Agencies…
Concerned Members of the Public…
Non-Profit & Conservation Groups…
• State-wide initiative
• 2-year effort
• Recommendations
• Collaboration
• Stakeholder process
• Open, transparent
• Inclusive
• Science-based
• Info exchange
• Documentation
• Preserving
• Enhancing
• Improving management
“So, what is the Shellfish Management Plan?”
Improving communication…
Working with the shellfish industry…
Protecting & enhancing the resource…
Stakeholder Meetings & Seminars…
• “Human Use Interactions” project
• Cataloging array of uses
• Mapping uses on charts
• Collecting info phase
• Scanning & digitizing
• Archived for future reference
• Online viewing soon
• Tool for managers
“What is the SMP doing to address all these different activities on the
Bay and ponds?”
Example of digitized chart…
Some info about aquaculture…• CRMC is lead agency
• 50 farms in 2012
• 172.55 acres
• 90 acres in Bay and B.I. (0.1%)
• 82 acres in South Coastal Ponds (2.0% of 4 ponds)– Winnapaug (8 acres)
– Ninigret (19.5 acres)
– Potters (6.9 acres)
– PJ (47.3 acres)
• Mostly Oysters, some clams and mussels
• Value of nearly $3M
• 105 farm workers
• “Green Growth Industry”
• Science & Research
• Summer Series
• Baird Symposium
• Weigh in on the maps
• Tell your story
• Come to events
• Eco-History (Fall)
“How can I contribute to the
SMP efforts?”
Switching Gears…
Our changing shorelines…
• Public process
• Develop policies & tools
• Protect & manage development along vulnerable shorelines
• Include best available science
• Acknowledge existing uses
• Plan for a changing future
Bookmarks…
• Shellfish Management Plan – www.rismp.org
• Beach SAMP - www.beachsamp.org (coming soon) http://www.seagrant.gso.uri.edu/coast/beachsamp.html
• All presentations on SlideShare – www.slideshare.net
• Azure Cygler – 401.874.6197, [email protected]
Thank you!
Cartoons courtesy: Don Bousquet
