[Rimarinefisheries] 2020 PROVIDENCE RIVER QUAHOG TRANSPLANT – Tuesday, September 15, 2020

by admin

[Rimarinefisheries] 2020 PROVIDENCE RIVER QUAHOG TRANSPLANT – Tuesday, September 15, 2020

2020 PROVIDENCE RIVER QUAHOG TRANSPLANT

Tuesday, September 15, 2020; 8:00am – Noon

 

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) are seeking commercial shellfishermen to participate in a quahog transplant next week. The quahogs harvested during the transplant will be used to enhance stocks in Rhode Island and provide winter harvest opportunities for shellfishermen.

 

  • Quahogs will be transplanted from the lower Providence River to Western Greenwich Bay (Greenwich Bay Shellfish Management Area, Sub-Area 1), Bristol Harbor SMA, and Winnapaug Pond Spawner Sanctuary.
  • Only licensed fishermen may participate.  Licenses must be presented to DEM Law Enforcement and will be retained until participation in completed. 
  • Shellfishermen that participate in harvest only but do not assist in transplanting will be paid $10 per 50-pound bag.
  • Shellfishermen that participate in both harvest and transplanting will be paid $15 per 50-pound bag.

 

Additional information

 

  • To receive payment, participants must complete a W-9 form.  Link to form: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf.  The W-9 form should be completed by September 15, 2020 to ensure prompt receipt of payment.  The completed forms should be sent to:

Narragansett Bay Commission

1 Service Road

Providence, RI 02905

    • In-person on the day of the transplant: Completed forms can be submitted to Kim Kirwan during license drop off.
    • W-9 questions (401) 461-8848 ext. 391; to fax the document 401-461-6540
  • Licensed shellfishermen wishing to participate must report to the on-scene DEM Enforcement patrol boat by 8 AM on the day of the transplant. The officers will collect licenses at that time.
  • Areas where transplants occur will be closed to harvest and re-opened in December 2020.
  • A percentage of the quahogs will be transplanted into Winnapaug Pond Spawner Sanctuary by DEM.
  • If a delay is implemented due to foul weather, the information will be provide on the Marine Fisheries Listserve rimarinefisheries-subscribe@listserve.ri.gov and the Water Quality Closure Hotline (401) 222-2900.

 

COVID-19 Quahog Transplant Safety Protocol

 

  • Participants traveling that have traveled from states with a 5% or greater COVID-19 positive test rate, as maintained by RIDOH at https://health.ri.gov/covid/travel/  must either have quarantined in Rhode Island for 14 days prior to the date of the transplant, or must have received a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours prior to the date of the transplant, in accordance with current executive orders. 
  • All participants shall remain on their own boats for the duration of the transplant to allow for physical distancing of at least six (6) feet.
  • All participants must wear a face covering in accordance with current executive orders, RIDOH regulations, and guidance whenever a physical distance of six (6) feet cannot easily, continuously and measurably be maintained. Additional information regarding face coverings can be found at www.reopeningri.com.  All persons attending the quahog transplant must supply their own face covering.
  • All participants are subject to COVID-19 screening via the reopeningri.com site screening tool . All participants will be advised to remain home and isolate if they respond positively to any of the screening questions. Additionally, if they are currently sick or not feeling well, they should remain at home and isolate. 
  • When a shellfishermen provides their license to the Division of Law Enforcement at the start of the transplant and when retrieve their license at the end, they must be wearing their face covering.
  • During the offloading of shell bags onto the transport boats and during the dumping of quahogs, participants must wear a face covering.
  • DEM staff will retain a record and contact information for all participants present for at least 30 days, after which said information will be destroyed, in accordance with current executive orders, RIDOH regulations and guidance.  Said information will be available to RIDOH for contact tracing purposes only should any participant be determined to be COVID-19 positive. 
  • All persons attending will have access to hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.  DEM staff will ensure that all supplies of hand sanitizer are stocked and replenished as needed.
  • All participants will be encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to carry with them as well for use onboard their vessels.    

 

Thank you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Return to top of page