January 30, 2018 — SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — The following was released by the Resilient Fisheries RI Project:
Between February 1 and March 16, 2018, members of Rhode Island’s commercial fishing industry are invited to provide comment on a draft document outlining strategies for the industry’s future.
The draft Rhode Island Commercial Fisheries Blueprint for Resilience was developed through a two-year process called the Resilient Fisheries RI project. With funding from a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Saltonstall Kennedy grant and with fiscal sponsorship provided by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey, the fishermen-led project included forty-eight interviews, ten two-hour topical workshops, and one daylong facilitated scenarios planning workshop. Based on this broad-based input, the new Blueprint for Resilience draft describes seven key resilience strategies for the state’s commercial fishing industry: public relations, civic engagement, the next generation, innovative marketing, working waters and coastlines, healthy ecosystems, and adaptive science and management. The final document will be made available online and delivered to elected officials, local, state, and federal government agencies, members of the scientific community, financial and philanthropic institutions, marketing and promotion councils, and local food systems advocates.
During the comment period, all those with financial dependence on the harvest of wild seafood in Rhode Island are invited to review the draft and provide feedback through a form located at www.resilientfisheriesRI.org. Reviewers must register to receive access to the draft by contacting ResilientFisheriesRI@gmail.com. Additionally, project coordinator Sarah Schumann will hold informal office hours in locations of commercial fisheries significance throughout the comment period; interested parties may refer to the calendar located on the website to find an up-to-date schedule of these opportunities.
An informational session for members of the commercial fishing industry will be held at Whaler’s Brewing (1174 Kingstown Rd, Wakefield, RI) on Tuesday, February 6 from 4:00-6:00 pm. At this session, attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the process that produced the Blueprint and to discuss ways of making the Blueprint an effective tool for industry problem solving and empowerment. Copies of the draft will be on hand to view.
Members of the media will be invited to attend a public launch event in late spring when the Blueprint for Resilience is published. A date, time, and location will be announced in late March. In the meantime, members of the media may learn more by contacting Sarah Schumann at the email or phone number listed above.
Learn more about the Resilient Fisheries Project here.