2018 Aquaculture report shows steady growth in RI industry

August 7, 2019, Wakefield – The aquaculture industry in Rhode Island experienced more steady upward growth in 2018, according to the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council’s annual status report, “Aquaculture in Rhode Island.”

In 2018, the farm gate value (the value for the product paid to the farmer) of the state’s aquaculture products increased, from $5.7 million in 2017 to more than $5.8 million.
The number of farms increased from 73 to 76, and acres farmed grew by 23.2 acres, to a total of 319.3 acres farmed. Oysters remain the aquaculture product of choice in the state, with more than 8.5 million sold for consumption.

Oyster seed sales from Rhode Island aquaculturists were valued at $243,250, down slightly from last year’s value of $260,175. The number of aquaculture farm workers also increased modestly from 194 to 200. The combined value of aquaculture products for consumption and seed sales was $6.09 million.

The full report is available at the CRMC’s web site, www.crmc.ri.gov.