WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • JUNE 2019 57 (CONTINUED ON PAGE 58) 2015. Today, the farm produces over a dozen varieties of vegetables, herbs and berries, and about 20 tons of fresh produce yearly. Some of the farming practices include raised beds, row covers and drip irrigation. Crops are grown in greenhouses and under low tunnels during winter to ensure year-round supply to the restaurant. The vegetable and shellfish farm also directly supply the local community with fresh organic vegetables and seafood products through local farmers markets. In keeping with its commitment to the local waters and Rhode Island’s natural resources, the MOF/MOB team promote green initiatives across operations. These include sustainable aquaculture practices, responsible and organic growing methods on the vegetable farm and avoidance of single-use plastics in the restaurant. The MOF and MOB also contribute towards a variety of state-wide restoration projects by recycling empty shells originating from the farm and restaurant. The shells are used by The Nature Conservancy and the RI Department of Environmental Management for the construction of oyster reefs to rehabilitate wild populations. As a relentless advocate for the environmental, economic, social and cultural role of sustainable aquaculture, MOF also serves an array of educational initiatives. Its core mission is to transparently inform the community on the importance of sustainable aquaculture in providing essential ecosystem services, creating resilient and local food production systems and contributing to reaching global sustainable development goals. The main avenue for these educational initiatives is through the organization of regular and free farm tours of the MOF. Demand and interest are high and MOF is currently expanding the farm tour fleet to accommodate a growing number of visitors. The MOF and MOB have played a fundamental role in promoting Rhode Island’s oysters nationally and internationally and in fueling local ecotourism. The yearly steady increase of out-ofstate and international visitors emphasizes the importance of food tourism in sustaining and building regional community identity. One the eve of its tenth anniversary, the MOB has established itself as one of the best places to experience oysters in the US and received recognition through publications such as USA Today, The Week and the Boston Globe. Product Diversification and the Future The availability of shellfish seed is a fundamental requirement to support the growth of the shellfish aquaculture industry. The rapid growth of this industry in the northeast USA over the last two decades (about 10 percent per year in RI since 1999; Beutel 2019), combined with periodic production challenges due to disease and water quality issues, has led to a shortage of seed, with demand exceeding supply. There are about 55 commercial hatcheries along the East Coast of the US, the majority limited to production of oysters and clams. Rhode Island lacks a routinely operating commercial hatchery and therefore growers solely rely on out-of-state hatcheries for their supply of oyster seed, resulting in uncertain availability on a yearly basis. Moreover, aquaculturists are increasingly seeking to diversify their crops to increase production and dissipate the impact of severe losses due to weather, pathogens and other biological and/or environmental factors. In this context, Raso is currently developing a state-of-the-art shellfish hatchery able to produce a variety of species, including oysters, bay scallops and seaweeds. This initiative is sponsored by a RI Innovation Voucher, with support from regional hatchery experts and academics. The advantages of adding a hatchery In early summer, oyster seed are brought from a nursery to the grow-out site at Matunuck Oyster Farm and placed in a floating cage system. Workers restock oysters on bottom-tray systems. Even dispersal of oysters on the tray promotes optimal feeding and growth as oysters are exposed to water flow with limited obstruction by gear. Oyster bags are sorted manually to remove mortalities.
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