R 190 |
2019 -- S 0744 Enacted 04/03/2019 |
S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
RECOGNIZING THE VALUE ON THE STATE'S RICH MARITIME AND FISHING HISTORY, AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN AND ENSURE THE SUCCESS OF RHODE ISLAND'S SEAFOOD INDUSTRY |
Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, McCaffrey, Algiere, Felag, and Euer |
Date Introduced: April 03, 2019 |
WHEREAS, According to the University of Rhode Island's 2018 Economic Impact of |
Rhode Island’s Fisheries and Seafood Sector report, “Rhode Island's Fisheries and Seafood Sector |
includes commercial fishing and shellfishing, fishing charters, processing, professional service |
firms, retail and wholesale seafood dealers, service and supply firms, and tackle shops. Including |
spillover effects across all sectors of the Rhode Island economy, the total economic impact of the |
Rhode Island Fisheries and Seafood Sector was 4,381 jobs and $538.3 million in 2016”; and |
WHEREAS, The state's fishing community is a major partner in ensuring the health of |
Rhode Islanders by providing fresh local seafood, which is an excellent source of protein and |
important minerals, and helps to lower cholesterol and heart disease; and |
WHEREAS, The state's fishers are environmentalists who work tirelessly to sustain our |
oceans, which produce half of the oxygen we breathe and are instrumental to the capture of |
carbon dioxide; and |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island has a rich, deep history and connection with the Atlantic |
Ocean both in times of peace and in times of war. Settlers to Rhode Island have been fishing in |
the Atlantic Ocean off Rhode Island’s coast for nearly 400 years, since the 1600s; and |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island was the first state in the country to produce an ocean SAMP, a |
Special Area Management Plan, which is an achievement widely celebrated and often referenced |
nationally. The years of study and work that went into that pioneering ocean management plan, |
which is an enormous source of pride to all of Rhode Island, must be followed and continued; and |
WHEREAS, Squid is Rhode Island’s top landed fish, with more than 119 Rhode Island |
fishing vessels landing more than 22 million pounds each year. Rhode Island squid landings alone |
are valued at more than $28 million annually for this one species of fish; and |
WHEREAS, Galilee is the number one port for longfin squid landings on the entire East |
coast; and |
WHEREAS, In 2015, Rhode Island landed 16 million pounds of squid while the state |
with the second highest landings was New York, with 4 million pounds. In addition, squid is not |
a state-restricted fish; out-of-state boats also come to Rhode Island with their squid catch because |
of the processing facilities located here in Rhode Island; and |
WHEREAS, Rhode Island’s seafood processing facilities include the largest supplier of |
calamari in the United States. These seafood processing facilities also contribute millions of |
dollars to the state’s economy. Rhode Island squid is shipped and enjoyed all over the world |
because of the seafood processing facilities; and |
WHEREAS, Along with the State’s fishing history, the $538 million per year and the |
nearly 4,400 jobs from Rhode Island’s seafood industry are vital statistics to keep in mind as the |
State moves forward and uses the ocean for energy development. While Rhode Island has |
strongly embraced the new-to-the-United States offshore wind industry and the approximately |
100 jobs it should bring to the Rhode Island area, it is also essential to be vigilant in protecting |
and maintaining the State's fishing and seafood industry and with it the history and future |
sustainability of fresh, local, healthy sources of protein for all; now therefore be it |
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
hereby supports and places a premium value on the state’s rich maritime and fishing history, and |
will continue to work to maintain and ensure the success of Rhode Island’s seafood industry; and |
be it further |
RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully requests the Governor, the state |
agencies and the CRMC to act in support and furtherance of Rhode Island’s commercial fishing |
industry and to do everything in their powers to work to ensure the existence, and the success, of |
Rhode Island’s commercial fishing fleet and, at a minimum, that they do no harm; and be it |
further |
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the |
State of Rhode Island, Grover Fugate, Executive Director of CRMC, Meghan Lapp, Fisheries |
Liaison for Seafreeze Ltd., James R. Fox, President, Sea Fresh USA, Inc., Noah Clark, Founder |
of The Town Dock, Anna Malek Mercer, Executive Director, Commercial Fisheries Research |
Foundation, and Richard L. Fuka, President of the Rhode Island Fisherman's Alliance. |
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LC002270 |
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