Revised Aquaculture Regulations for Improved Shellfish Seafood Safety Kick In

Goal is safer shellfish

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing that recently revised shellfish aquaculture regulations went into effect on Sunday August 11, 2024. 

The “Aquaculture of Marine Species in Rhode Island Waters” regulations (250-RICR-40-00-1) describe the conditions under which shellfish aquaculture, such as oyster farming, is conducted in Rhode Island. Rhode Island follows the Federal National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) guidance in order to engage in interstate sale of shellfish. 

The recent “Aquaculture of Marine Species” regulation revisions are designed to minimize the risk of shellfish-related illnesses and are required to maintain compliance with the NSSP requirements.

The recent regulatory changes include an extension of the duration of the summer period of post-harvest shellfish temperature control. Under the new guidance, increased icing and shading requirements, and shorter delivery time to refrigerated storage are in effect during June 1 through September 30. 

A requirement that shellfish growers take a harvester education class that stresses seafood safety best management practices at least once every two years was also added. These changes were developed cooperatively with DEM, the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), the RI Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) and the shellfish industry. A series of public workshops between these regulatory agencies and aquaculturists were held last winter to develop and announce the revised aquaculture regulations.

The revised aquaculture regulations are part of a system that protects public health by ensuring that only quality, safe shellfish is harvested and enters the food system. DEM, RIDOH and CRMC, along with industry partners, collaborate to ensure that shellfish grown and harvested from Rhode Island waters continues to be a quality safe seafood product to be enjoyed by all consumers. 

This is achieved by diligent monitoring of shellfish harvesting waters and ensuring that safe post-harvest practices such as rapid chilling of harvested shellfish are in effect.

More information on DEM’s Shellfish Program is available at www.dem.ri.gov/shellfish. An interactive shellfishing map is also available.  For information on emergency and conditional area water quality related shellfish closures, call DEM’s 24-hour shellfishing hotline at 401-222-2900 or sign up for DEM’s Office of Water Resources' shellfishing listserv here: RIshellfishOWR-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov.

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