The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has announced a new, mandatory education and certification program for everyone who commercially harvests and lands shellfish in Rhode Island.

The goal of the program is to ensure that shellfish harvesters deliver a safe product to shellfish dealers, and, in turn, to shellfish consumers.

Certification may be obtained by completing a 30-minute online tutorial available on www.ri.gov/dem/training/shellfish, DEM's website, or by attending a group presentation offered by DEM. Pre-registration for the group sessions is not required, and additional presentations may be scheduled, as needed.

A session was held Monday at the Warwick Public Library and a second session will be this Thursday at 6 p.m. the Bristol Maritime Center, 127 Thames Street, Bristol.

In accordance with United States Food and Drug Administration requirements and new regulations adopted by DEM, holders of all applicable commercial licenses and landing permits for 2018 must obtain certification via the new program. This includes:

• All holders of commercial shellfish licenses, including Principal Effort Licenses and Commercial Fishing Licenses with quahog, soft-shell clam, and/or shellfish other endorsements; Over 65 Shellfish Licenses, and Student Shellfish Licenses;
• All holders of Multi-Purpose Licenses who harvest shellfish; and
• All holders of landing permits who land shellfish.

The certification requirement applies to both license/permit renewals and new licenses/permits, beginning in 2018. All certificates are valid for five years, after which re-certification will be required.

All new shellfish license/permit applicants must obtain certification prior to the issuance of the new license or permit.

For more information or questions about the new certification program, contact Bob Ballou in the DEM Director's Office at Robert.ballou@dem.ri.gov or by phone at 222-4700 ext. 4420.