Preserve your public access rights
to a pristine Seapowet waterway.
Proposed oyster farms impede recreational fishing, navigation, safety, access, public use, natural ecology.
Mission
Preserve the valuable habitat at the Sapowet Marsh Wildlife Management Area (SWMA) and Tiverton Coastal waters, protect the public’s recreational use and uphold riparian rights as guaranteed in Rhode Island’s Constitution.
Vision
A Sapowet Marsh Wildlife Management Area (SWMA) and surrounding waterway that is protected from commercial development and remains free for public use now and for future generations.
Core Values
Conservation. We value the pristine and natural settings of Tiverton’s public waters. We want to protect wildlife habitats, open space, coastline, and adjacent conservation areas.
Stewardship. We treasure the Sakonnet River and watershed as a resource that should be appropriately shared as a public resource. We believe in responsible stewardship of Tiverton’s natural resources and coastline where the benefits that accrue to the many should not be outweighed by the commercial interests of a few.
Access. We appreciate public access to the recreational activities and beauty of historical natural settings provided by the Tiverton coastline. Highly used public waters must be protected for public use.
Inclusion. Meaningful inclusion of stakeholder input on the siting of commercial aquaculture operations must be central to granting aquaculture licenses. Aquaculture applicants should be required to notify and to engage abutting property owners, surrounding community members, and other stakeholders.
Integrity. Integrity of the application and applicant disclosures must be truthful and transparent.
Goals
Keep Tiverton’s waterway including the Sapowet WMA, Audubon’s Emilie Ruecker, and Fogland Beach protected for conservation and recreational opportunities.
Work with the CRMC and other stakeholders to create policies and find suitable locations that reduce conflict with aquaculture and existing users of the waters.
A protected area
Dating back to 1949, the Sapowet Marsh and its waters were recognized as an important area to protect from commercial development and to preserve for its recreational use and ecological value. Federal funds were used to purchase land to support public recreation for hunting, fishing, and other wildlife-related recreational activities. One of the grant applications from 1961 stated the purpose of the funds was to create a boat launching area to provide a public hunting and fishing area.
A pristine coastline at risk
The Sapowet Marsh and Sakonnet coastline are protected by the Sapowet Marsh Wildlife Management Area and public use areas for all to enjoy by land and water. The proposed oyster traps and commercial activity will take away the rights of everyone to share in this pristine coastline.
Lack of public discussion
To erect a new building in Tiverton, regulation requires the builders to notify and discuss their plans with abutting neighbors. Before 2022 CRMC regulation did not require that aquaculture farmers notify abutting neighbors, although it would have a significant impact on their shared right to access the water. We believed this policy needed to change, and that the regulations required consideration of the surrounding residents impacted. CRMC changed its notification regulations in February 2022 thanks to our advocacy.
Acres of equipment
There were two proposed oyster farms - one on the south side and one on the north side of Sapowet Point. The application on the south side is still being considered by the CRMC. The proposed location is nearly an acre of traps that will block recreational activity, recreational shellfishing and fin fishing access on the southeastern beach, and will be exposed at low tide.
On the north side, thanks to our advocacy, the applicants withdrew their proposal for three acres of floating traps that would require gas powered equipment to clean the traps, blocking recreation and compromising our ecology.
But it’s not too late to make your voice heard and stop the permanent installation of acres of damaging plastic, metal and gasoline along the Seapowet shoreline.
Donate
We are raising money for a legal defense fund because we need your help to navigate the policies of the Coastal Resources Management Council.
100% of the funds raised will go towards legal expenses. Thank you for your support.
