A History of Oyster Aquaculture in RI

Hi everyone,

For April we read "A History of Oyster Aquaculture in RI" by Michael Rice. We started out talking about oysters and shared oyster recipies and memories, then we moved on to the management of oysters in Rhode Island as described by the article. We were intrigued by colonial resource management--how in 1734 the practice of harvesting oysters for their shells alone (which were valuable for use in mortar) was outlawed because it was wasteful, and how they set laws to prevent overfishing.

The post-Revolutionary policy of issuing private harvest leases or grants of oyster banks was controversial at the time and has continued in one form or another to this day. We debated its merits (as a way to solve "Tragedy of the Commons") and the evolution of the RI system with its parade of different laws and commissions. We talked about the pollution that degraded the fishery, and how waters have improved since the passage of the Clean Water Act.

The author suggests that burdensome regulations promulgated the early 80s were an obstacle to the resurgence of aquaculture, and that 1996 revisions have improved the situation. Eugenia and Laura shared recollections of the lengthy Spatco/Moonstone Oyster lease application the author references. We delved more into pollution and discussed combined sewer overflows and other sources of nutrient pollution, one of the main problems currently facing the Narragansett Bay. We talked a lot about the history of our state, the legacy of industry and the impact on our waters today.

Next time: Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach! See sidebar for details. Happy Reading!

July Lewis & Eugenia Marks

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