Narragansett Bay Initiative-towards a sustainable future.
The future of a sustainable blue economy in the Ocean State depends on a rich quality of place, the protection and management of resilient coastal and ocean assets, a skilled workforce and thriving innovation. The purpose of the Narragansett Bay Initiative is to promote the sustainable growth of our state’s blue economy.
The Initiative has three objectives:
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Implement strategies that promote the sustainable growth of Rhode Island’s blue economy. From high-tech defense spurring innovation, to world-class marine trades and composites contributing to the state’s reputation as the sailing capital of the world, to internationally respected oceanographic research and strategic military educational institutions tackling complex issues and training future leaders to solve local and global challenges, Rhode Island makes significant contributions to the blue economy here, nationally, and even around the world. In fact, about 6-9% of Rhode Islanders work within the state’s ocean economy, a sector with a direct impact of more than $5 billion. The Value of Rhode Island’s Blue Economy Report and Videos describes the different blue economy sectors using both economic information and perspectives from sector leaders. This report then offers strategies and actions for how Rhode Island can best respond to global and local opportunities while encouraging appropriate growth within the state.
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Establish a diverse and informed constituency for the Bay, to create regulatory tools and strategies to support the vision of a resilient and healthy Bay and to bolster the integration and synergies within Rhode Island’s blue, or marine-based, economy. The project provides ample opportunities for stakeholders, students and the public t engage in science-based learning activities. For example, to establish a Bay constituency, a social media activity “Voices of Narragansett Bay”– is capturing people’s perspectives on Bay resiliency. Also, an educational series, geared to Bay community members, and a University of Rhode Island Masters of Environmental Science (MESM) Seminar program for graduate students
are ensuring dialogue takes place on further understanding and resolving Bay social, economic and environmental issues.
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Improve the proactive planning and management of Narragansett Bay through the development of the Narragansett Bay Special Area Management Plan (Bay SAMP). CRC is providing support to the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) to gather, synthesize and share out Bay science for the purpose of developing practical state policy to guide Rhode Island’s use and management of Bay resources. As part of this work, the Bay SAMP is identifying preferred cable routes which will be used by developers to connect offshore wind farms to Rhode Island and Massachusetts substations with the least amount of impact on resource users and our natural resources.
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The Narragansett Bay Initiative is funded by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council and Rhode Island Sea Grant.
For more information, contact Jen McCann at jmccann@uri.edu