Report to the Coastal Council on the progress of the: CRMC Working Group on Aquaculture Regulations David Alves, CRMC Aquaculture Coordinator February

Report to the Coastal Council on the Report to the Coastal Council on the progress of the: progress of the:

CRMC Working Group on CRMC Working Group on Aquaculture RegulationsAquaculture Regulations

David Alves, CRMC Aquaculture David Alves, CRMC Aquaculture CoordinatorCoordinator

February 26, 2008February 26, 2008

CRMC WGAR CRMC WGAR backgroundbackground

• First met in 2000First met in 2000– CRMC recognized need for communicationCRMC recognized need for communication

• Ceased meeting in 2002Ceased meeting in 2002– All participants decided that goals were All participants decided that goals were

metmet

• ResultsResults– Narragansett Bay charting projectNarragansett Bay charting project– New guidelines in CRMC RegulationsNew guidelines in CRMC Regulations– Increased communicationIncreased communication

CRMC WGAGCRMC WGAGCurrent sessionsCurrent sessions

• Marine Fisheries Council concernedMarine Fisheries Council concerned

• DEM F&W also concernedDEM F&W also concerned

• Aquaculture grew to 100 acres, state Aquaculture grew to 100 acres, state widewide

• DEM F&W and MFC refused to offer DEM F&W and MFC refused to offer Council opinions on new leasesCouncil opinions on new leases

• Communication was again neededCommunication was again needed

• Began meeting summer 2007Began meeting summer 2007


• Who are the members of the WGAR?Who are the members of the WGAR?– NGOs: Save The Bay, Salt Pond Coalition, NGOs: Save The Bay, Salt Pond Coalition,

Sierra Club;Sierra Club;– Industry representatives: RI Farm Bureau; Industry representatives: RI Farm Bureau;

OSAA, RISA, RISAA, MFC OSAA, RISA, RISAA, MFC – Academia: URI, RWUAcademia: URI, RWU– USDA, State legislatorsUSDA, State legislators– Regulatory agencies: DEM F&W, DOH, CRMCRegulatory agencies: DEM F&W, DOH, CRMC– Total of 28 members, 15-20 who regularly Total of 28 members, 15-20 who regularly

attend meetingsattend meetings


How much aquaculture is there?How much aquaculture is there?• Total in all RI waters = 110 acresTotal in all RI waters = 110 acres• This equals 0.037% of total State watersThis equals 0.037% of total State waters• Salt ponds = 5,387 acres/55 acres Salt ponds = 5,387 acres/55 acres

aquaculture = 1.0%aquaculture = 1.0%• Narragansett Bay = 87,723 acres/55 acres Narragansett Bay = 87,723 acres/55 acres

of aquaculture = 0.062%of aquaculture = 0.062%• Combined Salt Ponds and Narragansett Combined Salt Ponds and Narragansett

Bay = 0.12%Bay = 0.12%


• Salt Ponds: how much aquaculture is Salt Ponds: how much aquaculture is there?there?– Ninigret Pond = 0.25%Ninigret Pond = 0.25%– Winnapaug Pond = 1.91%Winnapaug Pond = 1.91%– Potters Pond = 1.81%Potters Pond = 1.81%– Pt. Judith Pond = 2.54%Pt. Judith Pond = 2.54%


• Who are the aquaculturists?Who are the aquaculturists?

• Commercial Fishermen hold:Commercial Fishermen hold:– 39% of all aquaculture leases39% of all aquaculture leases– 57% of leases in ponds57% of leases in ponds


• What has been accomplished?What has been accomplished?– The group has met monthly since July 2007The group has met monthly since July 2007– Subcommittee Report on the Biological Subcommittee Report on the Biological

Impacts of Aquaculture has been finishedImpacts of Aquaculture has been finished

•Chapters written by RI expertsChapters written by RI experts

•Reviewed by WGAR, members given 4 months Reviewed by WGAR, members given 4 months to review documentto review document

•Unanimously approved by WGARUnanimously approved by WGAR


• Biology report; Scientifically defensible Biology report; Scientifically defensible recommendations:recommendations:– Limit shellfish aquaculture to 5% of any Limit shellfish aquaculture to 5% of any

water bodywater body– Seek funding for research into Seek funding for research into

interactionsinteractions– Establish interagency board to make Establish interagency board to make

disease recommendationsdisease recommendations– Fund disease monitoring in wild and Fund disease monitoring in wild and

cultured populationscultured populations


• Biology report; Scientifically Biology report; Scientifically defensible recommendations:defensible recommendations:– Continued participation in ANS and Continued participation in ANS and

further activitiesfurther activities– Continue to protect natural resources in Continue to protect natural resources in

leasing processleasing process– Encourage BMPs for aquaculture Encourage BMPs for aquaculture

industryindustry


• What has been accomplished? What has been accomplished? – Charting of uses of all of the Salt PondsCharting of uses of all of the Salt Ponds

– New suggestions for regulatory changes New suggestions for regulatory changes have been discussed and agreed uponhave been discussed and agreed upon•Lease markingLease marking

•FAQ for public educationFAQ for public education

•Fate of public resource on leasesFate of public resource on leases

•Suggested regulation changesSuggested regulation changes


• What’s next?What’s next?– Suggested regulation changes - Suggested regulation changes -

•WGAR needs to arrive at consensusWGAR needs to arrive at consensus

• If consensus is not possible majority and If consensus is not possible majority and minority opinions will be preparedminority opinions will be prepared

•These changes will then go to DEM and These changes will then go to DEM and CRMC for considerationCRMC for consideration

•Write aquaculture development plan?Write aquaculture development plan?

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Biology SubcommitteeBiology SubcommitteeChair, Dr. David Bengtson, URIChair, Dr. David Bengtson, URI

Dr. Barry Costa-Pierce, RI Sea Grant; Dr. Marta Dr. Barry Costa-Pierce, RI Sea Grant; Dr. Marta Gomez-Chiarri, URI; Dr. Dale Leavitt, RWU; Mr. Gomez-Chiarri, URI; Dr. Dale Leavitt, RWU; Mr. Brian Murphy, DEM; Mr. Perry Raso, OSAA, Dr. Brian Murphy, DEM; Mr. Perry Raso, OSAA, Dr. Robert Rheault, OSAA; Ms. Abby Wood, Save Robert Rheault, OSAA; Ms. Abby Wood, Save The Bay. The Bay.


Charting ProjectCharting ProjectMr. David Beutel, URIMr. David Beutel, URI

Thanks to:Thanks to: Mark Bullinger, Salt Pond Coalition; Mark Bullinger, Salt Pond Coalition;

David Prescott, Save The Bay;David Prescott, Save The Bay;Wendy Waller Esq., Save The BayWendy Waller Esq., Save The Bay


All of the Working Group All of the Working Group ParticipantsParticipants

With Special Thanks to Wendy Waller, With Special Thanks to Wendy Waller, Esq., Save The Bay, for allowing Esq., Save The Bay, for allowing herself to be roped into taking herself to be roped into taking

meeting notes.meeting notes.

Documents

Report to the Coastal Council on the progress of the: CRMC Working Group on Aquaculture Regulations David Alves, CRMC Aquaculture Coordinator February