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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM TO OPEN BISSEL COVE - FOX ISLAND SHELLFISH MANAGEMENT AREA EFFECTIVE MONDAY, OCTOBER 24 PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management, in response to a request from the RI Shellfishermen's Association, announces that it will open the Bissel Cove - Fox Island shellfish management area in North Kingstown to shellfishing effective Monday, October 24. The area will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon until further notice.The area, originally slated to open on a limited basis in December for winter harvesting, is being opened early to give shellfishermen a place to work while the Bay recovers from the effects of the recent rains which have closed much of the rest of the Bay to shellfishing. "The action," says DEM Director W. Michael Sullivan, " reflects the Department's ability to employ adaptive management techniques to accommodate the needs of the industry while maintaining sound resource protection." If the bay recovers by next week, DEM will likely re-close the Bissel Cove area until the original December timeframe. Last spring, more than 350,000 pounds of quahogs were transplanted by shellfishermen from high shellfish-density areas in Narragansett Bay to shellfish management areas, including more than 100,000 pounds of quahogs from Mill Cove in Wickford to the Bissel Cove/Fox Island Shellfish Management Area. The transplanted shellfish have since been unavailable for harvest, which allowed them to spawn once and contribute toward replenishing adjacent areas. The shellfish transplant program is a cooperative effort between DEM, the Narragansett Bay Commission, the shellfish industry, volunteers, and the Department of Health, and is funded from commercial fishing license fees. -30- |
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