Shellfish have been an integral part in Rhode Island’s culture and history for nearly 2,700 years.
The Narragansett and Wampanoag tribes were the first to recognize the value of shellfish both culturally and economically in Narragansett Bay, Little Narragansett Bay, and the coastal salt ponds (Schumann, 2015). Shellfish are not only historically and culturally important to Rhode Island, but shellfish are the bases of Rhode Island's healthy ecosystems.
Shellfish provide important ecosystem services.
Benefits of Shellfish in Rhode Island Waters
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Ecosystem services are the outputs or processes of natural systems that directly or indirectly benefit humans or enhance social welfare.
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Shellfish reefs promote biodiversity and create healthy habitats for other marine organisms. Shellfish also provide protection from storm surges, by creating barriers.
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Shellfish remove excess nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon from the marine environment.
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Schumann, S. (2015). Rhode Island's shellfish heritage: An ecological history. Coastal Resources Center, Coastal Institute, Rhode Island Sea Grant.