Aquaculture in the Ocean State: FREE Summer Tours

Aquaculture in the Ocean State: FREE Summer Tours

What does a working shellfish farm look like up close? What is a ‘shellfish restoration lease’ and how does it work? Explore the answers to these questions and more this summer on our free public tours!

Hear from experts, including the “Pond to Plate” founder and owner of Matunuck Oyster Bar, the state’s aquaculture coordinator, and the head of the Jamestown Aquaculture Movement. Tour a working shellfish farm to see firsthand how they grow, and learn the value of shellfish restoration for water quality and marine critters. Join us and shellfish experts to learn and discuss all aspects of shellfish farming in the Ocean State.

For adventurers! A “Wading” Tour of Matunuck Oyster Farm ***FULL***

Wednesday, July 13, 2016
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

The tour will meet in the parking lot of East Matunuck State Beach, 950 Succotash Rd, South Kingston, RI 02881.

Join Perry Raso (Owner/Operator of Matunuck Oyster BarPam Lyons_Historic Perspectives of Ninigret Pond ) and Dave Beutel, Aquaculture Coordinator, RI Coastal Resources Management Council for a wading tour of Perry’s shellfish growing operation in Potter Pond. The tour will start in the morning at the parking lot of East Matunuck State Beach. Good walking/water shoes required – Involves some adventuresome bush-whacking! RSVP today, limited spots available. Perry has invited ‘wading’ tour guests back to his award-winning Matunuck Oyster Bar for chowder & stuffies after the tour. Participants will also receive a free copy of the book, Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage: An Ecological History. Please RSVP to Azure@crc.uri.edu.

Shellfish Research in Jamestown

Monday, August 15, 2016
10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The tour will meet in the parking lot of the Melrose Avenue School, 76 Melrose Ave. Jamestown, RI 02835.

Join Phil Larson, founder of the Jamestown Aquaculture Movement, restoration experts, and Jamestown officials on a walking tour of an Oyster Research Site in Jamestown. Form a better understanding of what a research & education site does and come to know how one type of gear (floating) works for aquaculture. Sturdy shoes are required. Snacks & refreshments will be served and participants will receive a free copy of the book, Rhode Island’s Shellfish Heritage: An Ecological History. Please RSVP to Azure@crc.uri.edu.

Events are hosted by the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (URI GSO) Coastal Resources Center/ Rhode Island Sea Grant, through grants from NOAA’s National Sea Grant office and the Sharpe Family Foundation/Henry and Peggy Sharpe, in collaboration with CRMC and Roger Williams University.

To reserve your space for any of the following tours, please contact Azure Cygler at azure@crc.uri.edu.