Skip to ContentSitemap

YouTubeFacebookTwittereNewsletter SignUp

CRMC Logo

RI Coastal Resources Management Council

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

Two aquaculture farms approved

June 2, 2014, Providence – The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) recently approved the lease of a three-acre aquaculture farm in Point Judith Pond in Narragansett and a 0.75-acre oyster farm in Quonochontaug Pond in Charlestown, the first in that pond.

At the May 27 semi-monthly meeting of the CRMC, aquaculturist Ian Campbell unanimously received permission to grow and harvest oysters, littlenecks and bay scallops in the pond, along the hard sand bank between Beef Island and High Point. East Beach Farms, LLC, under the ownership and operation of James Arnoux, also received unanimous approval for his less-than-one-acre farm in Quonochontaug Pond.

Campbell will utilize various growing methods, according to the depth on the site, from cage culture in the deepest waters, to rack and bag in the medium depth areas, to bottom culture in the shallowest area. Each method is common to shellfish aquaculture and is currently being employed at other sites in the pond. With the approval of this lease, the total area being used in the pond for aquaculture will be 50.3 acres, which is 3.25 percent of total pond area and below the five percent threshold.

“Mr. Campbell did extensive research as to finding an area that is little used in the pond,” CRMC aquaculture coordinator David Beutel said. “He works in the pond every day as a commercial fisherman.”

Arnoux previously had been granted an 18-month commercial viability permit in May 2013 for aquaculture in Quonochontaug Pond, which was quite successful. He will utilize three types of oyster growing gear: floating OysterGro cages, stackable trays and bottom cages; stackable trays are similar to the common rack and bag system used in many other aquaculture operations. East Beach Farms also operates three sites for a total of 4.5 acres in Ninigret Pond.

“Mr. Arnoux has other leases in Ninigret Pond and he was seeking to diversify,” Beutel said at the meeting. “He is a leader in the industry. He has met… all of our (programmatic) requirements and any requests for information and meeting with the local residents. “I’m recommending approval for this application.”

As part of his application, Arnoux also plans to set aside a small portion of his lease for supplying his oysters for restoration projects in the pond, which are managed by the RI Department of Environmental Management and The Nature Conservancy.

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