CRMC's RI Aquaculture Initiative awards four research mini-grants

May 6, 2005, WAKEFIELD — The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council's RI Aquaculture Initiative has awarded nearly $16,000 in research grants to four recipients through its annual Mini-Grant Program, which supports the development, diversification and enhancement of aquaculture in the state.

The four awards, totaling $15,945, will go toward displaying locally-grown shellfish; research on disease protection for ornamental fish and shellfish; production of Koi on small Rhode Island farms; and analysis of sediment at shellfish farms for organic carbon and grain size.

Ocean State Aquaculture Association in South Kingstown was awarded a $5,645 mini-grant that will help the organization display Rhode Island-grown shellfish at the Boston Seafood Show in 2006. The show, according to the association, attracts thousands of buyers, chefs and restaurant and seafood market owners, shellfish purveyors and trade goods suppliers. The mini-grant will go toward booth space and maintenance, hotel and fuel costs. The group will use the grant in March 2006.

Roger Williams University Biology Department and Drs. Avelina Espinosa and Harold Pomeroy received a mini-grant for $5,000 for the identification of antimicrobial peptides and disease protection or ornamental fish and shellfish. Espinosa and Pomeroy have proposed identifying natural antimicrobial peptides in several fish and shellfish species that are currently cultivated at the university's aquaculture facility, and investigate the ability of these and commercially available peptides to protect fish against infection. The research will be conducted from June 2005 to June 2006.

Pomeroy, Bradford Bourque and Ron Fortunati were also awarded a $4,300 mini-grant from the initiative for their research on the "Economic Feasibility of Koi Production on Small Farms in Rhode Island." The group hopes to produce and sell the fish; the mini-grant from the RIAI is for the greenhouse to be used during the winter.

The group will conduct its research from May 2005 to May or June 2006.

The RI Aquaculture Initiative also approved a mini-grant for $1,000 to Bill Silkes and Salt Water Farms, LLC in North Kingstown. There are three aquaculture companies in Rhode Island licensed for the suspension culture of shellfish. They are operated by Chris Clarendon, Chris Warfel and Salt Water Farms. A requirement of their leases is annual bottom sampling at the sites and analysis of sediments for total organic carbon and grain size. The grant will help fund the equipment and laboratory space necessary to perform the sampling and analyses. The farms will do the work from June 2005 to December 2008 and the equipment will be available to all aquaculturists in Rhode Island for future use.

"The Rhode Island Aquaculture Initiative has been investing in the future of the aquaculture industry for the past three years," said David Alves, aquaculture coordinator for the CRMC. "These investments will help the industry meet the challenges of the 21st century. We are fortunate to be able to make these investments and help this small but dynamic Rhode Island industry."

Individual grant awards are usually in the $1,000 to $5,000 range. Larger awards are possible in the case of appropriate and worthy projects. Target areas for funding through the aquaculture initiative's mini-grant program include development of new aquaculture species, expanding the existing industry, diversification of markets, application of new technology and continuation of funded projects. The mini-grants are available to Rhode Island residents, and funds are to be used primarily for equipment and supplies. No matching funds are required; however, eligibility for these awards includes a shown ability and commitment to undertake the work.