Rhode Island Shellfish Management Plan UPDATE ON CREATING “USE MAPS”

For the latest on the Use Maps project, check out the Update on Creating Use Maps (pdf).

PURPOSE
At the request of stakeholders, the SMP Team is working to develop a comprehensive and accessible set of current “use maps” for Narragansett Bay and the coastal ponds in Rhode Island state waters to help address user-conflict concerns.
GOALS
The information collected will be used to:
• Document the myriad uses and activities in Narragansett Bay and the coastal ponds to better understand utilization patterns and highlight the importance of our waters to a diverse user base;
• Add to and enhance the existing resources and tools available to managers to inform decisions about water related uses; and
• Provide necessary information on uses to inform the discussion about how best to minimize use conflicts— perceived, current, and projected.

Read more: Update on Creating Use Maps