Developing Information and Local Capacity to Manage the RI Whelk Fishery presented at April 14th, 2014 Rhode Island Shellfish Management Plan Stakeholder meeting by Kathleen Castro URI, Thomas Angell RI DEM, Katie Eagan RI Whelk Association

1. Developing information and local
capacity to manage the RI whelk
fishery
Kathleen Castro, URI
Thomas Angell, RI DEM
Katie Eagan, RI Whelk Association
RIWA

2. Goal
• Provide synthesis of local and scientific
knowledge on biology, ecology and fishery for
whelk
• Create new knowledge in collaborative
manner
• Build capacity for co-management

3. Components
• Gather local knowledge (LEK) on whelk and whelk fishery
– Focus group discussions and individual interviews
– Verification
• Fishery data improvement
– Study fleet on catches/discards
• Collaborative Research
– Biological data on knobbed (horn) whelk
– Trap selection and animal behavior
• Build co-management capacity
– Assist with RI Whelk Association
– Trainings/workshops on co-management

4. Partner Roles
URI: provide scientific format, methods and data analysis;
provide training and capacity building
RI WA: develop research questions, at sea monitoring and
data interpretation,
RI DEM: assist in developing data needs, collection,
analysis and application
SG: Assist in integrating new policies and decisions into
management plans

5. Questions ?