Outreach and Education Events
Background
While it is critical to provide education to new & existing shellfish farmers, the growth in aquaculture in the Ocean State signals an opportunity to provide education to the general public and interested citizens on what aquaculture is, looks like, and offers to Rhode Island. The Coastal Resources Center/Rhode Island Sea Grants has been offering community events, bringing government, industry and community interests together to engage in productive dialogue about the benefits – jobs and revenue – and concerns – noise, odor and equipment appearance — that emerge in municipalities that host shellfish aquaculture activities. An educational series, including talks from historians, ecologists, legal experts, as well as field trips to local shellfish farms are all part of the program.
Events are hosted by the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography (URI GSO) Coastal Resources Center /Rhode Island Sea Grant, through a partnership grant from NOAA’s National Sea Grant office, in collaboration with CRMC and Roger Williams University. All events are free and open to the public.