Link to DEM Home Page Link to State of RI web site RIDEM graphical banner, showing land and water scene
Navigation button, HomeNavigation button, ProgramsNavigation button, TopicsNavigation button, MapsNavigation button, PublicationsNavigation button, NewsNavigation button, EventsNavigation button, SearchNavigation button, HelpNavigation button, Contact
Home > News > News Item


Marine Fisheries Regulations
  
News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: October 22, 2002
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM WILL HOLD WORKSHOPS ON NEW SHELLFISH HARVESTING AND AQUACULTURE REGULATIONS ON NOVEMBER 6 & 7

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management, in partnership with the Department of Health and the University of Rhode Island, will hold informational workshops for fishermen, shellfish dealers and aquaculturists on November 6 and November 7 to discuss new regulations governing the harvesting, tagging and sale of shellfish and aquaculture products. The new regulations, which took effect in June, were developed pursuant to legislation enacted in 2001 that authorized DEM and DOH to promulgate new rules governing the possession and handling of shellfish by commercial harvesters.

The regulations will bring Rhode Island into compliance with the National Shellfish Sanitation Program, which certifies the safety of shellfish sold in the state. The regulations require shellfish harvesters and aquaculturists to "bag and tag" their product at the site of harvest. DEM has developed a shellfish harvest area map that identifies harvest areas in Narragansett Bay and salt ponds. Large, laminated copies of the shellfish harvest area maps will be distributed to all shellfish dealers to be posted for reference.

Fishermen, dealers and aquaculturists are reminded that the grace period for product bagging and tagging requirements ends on November 30, and that all regulations will be actively enforced beginning on December 1.

The November 6th workshop will be held in Bristol at Roger Williams University, in the Center for Environmental and Economic Development. The November 7th workshop will be held at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick, in Conference Room 1130. Both sessions will begin at 4 p.m.

For additional information about the workshops or the shellfish regulations, call Arthur Ganz at DEM's Fort Wetherill Marine Fisheries Center at 423-1927. The regulations can be found on DEM's website at www.dem.state.ri.us by clicking on Publications, then Regulations, then Marine Fisheries.

-30-
For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer