Report to the Coastal Council on the progress of the: CRMC Working Group on Aquaculture Regulations

1. Report to the Coastal Council on the progress of the: CRMC Working Group on Aquaculture Regulations David Alves, CRMC Aquaculture Coordinator February 26, 2008

2. CRMC WGAR background • First met in 2000 • CRMC recognized need for communication • Ceased meeting in 2002 • All participants decided that goals were met • Results • Narragansett Bay charting project • New guidelines in CRMC Regulations • Increased communication

3. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • Marine Fisheries Council concerned • DEM F&W also concerned • Aquaculture grew to 100 acres, state wide • DEM F&W and MFC refused to offer Council opinions on new leases • Communication was again needed • Began meeting summer 2007

4. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • Who are the members of the WGAR? • NGOs: Save The Bay, Salt Pond Coalition, Sierra Club; • Industry representatives: RI Farm Bureau; OSAA, RISA, RISAA, MFC • Academia: URI, RWU • USDA, State legislators • Regulatory agencies: DEM F&W, DOH, CRMC • Total of 28 members, 15-20 who regularly attend meetings

5. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions How much aquaculture is there? • Total in all RI waters = 110 acres • This equals 0.037% of total State waters • Salt ponds = 5,387 acres/55 acres aquaculture = 1.0% • Narragansett Bay = 87,723 acres/55 acres of aquaculture = 0.062% • Combined Salt Ponds and Narragansett Bay = 0.12%

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

7. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • Who are the aquaculturists? • Commercial Fishermen hold: • 39% of all aquaculture leases • 57% of leases in ponds

8. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • What has been accomplished? • The group has met monthly since July 2007 • Subcommittee Report on the Biological Impacts of Aquaculture has been finished • Chapters written by RI experts • Reviewed by WGAR, members given 4 months to review document • Unanimously approved by WGAR

9. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • Biology report; Scientifically defensible recommendations: • Limit shellfish aquaculture to 5% of any water body • Seek funding for research into interactions • Establish interagency board to make disease recommendations • Fund disease monitoring in wild and cultured populations

10. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • Biology report; Scientifically defensible recommendations: • Continued participation in ANS and further activities • Continue to protect natural resources in leasing process • Encourage BMPs for aquaculture industry

11. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • What has been accomplished? • Charting of uses of all of the Salt Ponds • New suggestions for regulatory changes have been discussed and agreed upon • Lease marking • FAQ for public education • Fate of public resource on leases • Suggested regulation changes

12. CRMC WGAGCurrent sessions • What’s next? • Suggested regulation changes - • WGAR needs to arrive at consensus • If consensus is not possible majority and minority opinions will be prepared • These changes will then go to DEM and CRMC for consideration • Write aquaculture development plan?

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

14. Acknowledgements Charting Project Mr. David Beutel, URI Thanks to: Mark Bullinger, Salt Pond Coalition; David Prescott, Save The Bay; Wendy Waller Esq., Save The Bay

15. Acknowledgements All of the Working Group Participants With Special Thanks to Wendy Waller, Esq., Save The Bay, for allowing herself to be roped into taking meeting notes.