RI Shellfish Management Plan to launch January 7 At URI

State and URI Will Lead Statewide Effort to Maximize Benefits from Key Resource

January 4, 2013 – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, with support from the University of Rhode Island are developing a Rhode Island Shellfish Management Plan.  The first meeting of on the project will be held on Monday, January 7, 2013 at Corless Auditorium on URI’s Narragansett Bay Campus from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.  The meeting is open to the public.

Shellfishing is a historic and traditional industry in the Ocean State, with a large economic impact in the Ocean State.  Speakers at the kick-off event will include URI Graduate School of Oceanography Dean Bruce Corliss, Senator Susan Sosnowski and Rep. Eileen Naughton.  This event will provide an overview of the Rhode Island Shellfish Management Plan initiative, including how people can engage, and also begin to identify issues, concerns, opportunities, and expectations for the Plan.

The comprehensive Shellfish Management Plan will:

• Demonstrate the economic, environmental, and cultural value of the shellfish resource and industry to the people of Rhode Island
• Propose alternative shellfish management strategies and mechanisms for implementation
• Promote science-based shellfish management decisions

The Plan will facilitate management and research coordination; establish strategic priorities; promote active participation amongst stakeholders; and follow an open public process. Representatives of the local shellfishing industry will play a prominent role in assisting creation of the management plan.

The initiative is being jointly funded The Rhode Island Foundation, The Prospect Hill Foundation, The Sharpe Family Foundation/Henry and Peggy Sharpe, URI Coastal Institute, URI Coastal Resources Center, and The Rhode Island Sea Grant College Program.

Directions: The URI Narragansett Bay Campus is located on South Ferry Road in Narragansett, off Route 1A, approximately one mile east of the intersection of Route 1 and Route 138, via Kingstown Road.