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RI Coastal Resources Management Council

...to preserve, protect, develop, and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders

CRMC BioSecurity Board
URI Bay Campus Coastal Institute
Large Conference Room
March 19, 2013

MEETING MINUTES

Attendees: Mike McGiveney, Robert Rheault, Boze Hancock, Dale Leavitt, Marta Gomez-Chiarri, Bill Silkes, Roxanna Smolowitz, Scott Olszewski, and David Beutel

  • Presentation concerning Seaside Organism (SSO) disease-Roxanna Smolowitz Discussion of presentation and protocol for oyster seed shipments with a positive pathology test for SSO.
    • The disease is endemic to Rhode Island at low levels. Any pathology report that shows and infection rate equal to or greater than 10% will prohibit shipments to RI.
  • Asian Horseshoe Crab shipment to RI Discussion of issue and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission position to recommend a ban importation of Asian Horseshoe Crabs
    The Biosecurity Board recommends that the Department of Environmental Management Division of Fish and Wildlife take immediate action to prohibit the importation, possession and sale of all species of Asian Horseshoe Crabs in Rhode Island.
  • Review of biosecurity zones for the intrastate movement of shellfish (seed and adults).
  • Discussion of 2012 biosecurity zone map; review of proposed changes for 2013 biosecurity zone map; agreement for consolidation of zones for Narragansett Bay based upon recent research on water movement through Bay system and presence of shellfish diseases; discussion of transport of differences of transport of adult shellfish and seed within a zone.
  • Policy for seed transport: pathology test is required for transport between biosecurity zones; if pathology test is negative, seed can be transported throughout RI; if pathology report is positive, seed may be transferred to zones with historic record of detected disease; individual farmers may submit pathology reports indicating presence/absence of disease for historic record.
  • Shellfish Biosecurity Zones (5): Winnapaug Pond; Quonochontaug Pond; Ninigret Pond; Point Judith and Potters Ponds; Upper and East Bay (including Sakonnet River and Mount Hope Bay); and West
    Passage.
  • Discussion and recommendation to develop budget for a shellfish disease monitoring program for the biosecurity zones; submit request to Shellfish Management Plan for inclusion to plan.
  • New Business– discussion of dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoidesmay presence in Massachusetts waters and potential impacts for Rhode Island; “rust tide” causes finfish and shellfish mortality

 

CALENDAR INDEX

Stedman Government Center
Suite 116, 4808 Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879-1900
Voice 401-783-3370 • Fax 401-783-2069 • E-Mail cstaff1@crmc.ri.gov

RI SealRI.gov
An Official Rhode Island State Website