U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline have announced over $1.6 million in federal funding from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for the Rhode Island Sea Grant Program.
Rhode Island Sea Grant will use the funds to continue work on the state’s Shellfish Management Plan.
In addition, with construction of the five wind turbines for Block Island waters underway, Rhode Island Sea Grant will be updating the Ocean Special Area Management Plan, which is helping to ensure that the new wind turbines have a minimal effect on existing ocean users like fishermen and recreational boaters.
“Rhode Island’s coastal habitat and fisheries are an essential part of our culture and economy. The University of Rhode Island is a national leader in ocean research and conservation, and the Sea Grant program has been a vital partner in carrying out cooperative research and strengthening our coastal communities. I will continue working to keep federal funding flowing to URI to conduct this important research and protect our oceans,” said Senator Reed , a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS), and Related Agencies, which oversees NOAA funding.
Administered by the University of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Sea Grant Program supports research, community outreach, and education programs aimed at better understanding and preserving coastal communities and marine environments. The program focuses on four priority areas: healthy coastal ecosystems; sustainable fisheries and aquaculture; resilient communities and economies; and environmental literacy and workforce development. Recent initiatives have included developing guidelines for offshore energy and commercial ocean development, such as Rhode Island’s Ocean Special Area Management Plan, and protecting important fishing grounds to help preserve the state’s vital fishing industry.