Shellfish Harvester Education

RIDEM, the RI Department of Health and the National Shellfish Sanitation Program are pleased to provide an education and certification program for shellfish harvesters in Rhode Island. The Program took effect in 2018. The goal of the program is to ensure that shellfish harvesters deliver a safe product to shellfish dealers and, in turn, to shellfish consumers. The Program enables harvesters to meet the federal shellfish harvester’s education and training requirements for Rhode Island.

LICENSE RENEWALS: All applicable license and permit holders who obtain certification are eligible for renewal throughout the 5-year period following certification. Any applicable license or permit holder who has not obtained certification is not eligible for renewal unless and until they obtain certification.

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

NEWLY ACTIVE LICENSES AND PERMITS: Any holder of a multipurpose license or landing permit who becomes engaged, initially, in the harvest and landing of shellfish in Rhode Island – excluding whelk, and scallops if shucked prior to landing – must obtain certification within 90 days of the initial landing.

For more detailed information on all requirements and exceptions pertaining to this program, see RIDEM’s Shellfish Regulations - 4.21

A separate education and training program, administered by the RI Coastal Resources Management Council, applies to the certification and licensing of all commercial shellfish aquaculturists in Rhode Island.

Questions? Call 222-4700 and ask for a member of the Office of Water Resources’ Shellfish staff. Or email us at: dem.shellfish@dem.ri.gov.

For more detailed information on all requirements and exceptions pertaining to this program, see RIDEM’s Shellfish Regulations 4.21