The Narragansett Bay Shellfish Hatchery and Restocking Project requests your support.
We have received state approval to proceed with our plan. Click to View RI DEM Letter of Support
The Plan.
To build and operate a large scale shellfish hatchery. To spawn and grow native shellfish (little necks, oysters, scallops), plant them in RI state waters where they will grow to legal size and then be available for harvest by commercial fishermen and the public.
The shellfish industry in RI is at historic lows.
Last year the most productive 10,000 acres of the bay produced $500/acre. At the industry peak those same 10,000 acres produced $13,200/acre. At the industry peak RI had the largest outboard motor fleet in the world.
The state does not have the funds or facility to restore the industry.
Private donations and grants will fund building the facility and its operation for five years. User funding will then replace private funding to ensure long term operations. This project will be a 501c3 nonprofit.
The state needs jobs.
This project will reestablish and support up to 2,000 shellfishing jobs and many other related industry jobs.
Please respond to our e-mail account and let us know if;
(1) You support this project as part of the RI shellfish management plan.
(2) Or, you do not have enough information and would like to schedule a meeting to discuss the plan.