The state says Narragansett Bay is the cleanest it has been in 150 years. For those who live around the bay and enjoy it recreationally, that is cause for celebration.
A cleaner bay also boosts tourism opportunities and is positioned to play a central role in the state’s development of the so-called blue economy.
Not everyone, however, is sold on the economic benefits of a cleaner bay.
Fred Mattera, executive director of the Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island, says some fishermen worry that cleaner wastewater may have led to fish kills due to a lack of nitrogen.
“The bay has become almost crystal clear,” he said in this week’s cover story. But “the soupier [the water is] with a lot of life, the better.”
What’s causing fish kills in the bay deserves more study. But the positive economic effects of a cleaner bay are clear and numerous.
It’s now more attractive for recreational uses, including swimming and boating. That also makes it a draw for businesses looking to attract workers here.
The state’s small aquaculture industry is also growing thanks to the improved water quality in the bay.
The bay is also part of Rhode Island’s plans to create an Ocean Tech Hub and compete for up to $70 million in federal funding. The dramatic pollution reduction in the bay makes it a draw for water-testing companies eager to study the effects, says Christian Cowan, University of Rhode Island Research Foundation executive director.
“There’s an incredible interest in ocean health and Narragansett Bay health,” Cowan said. “It’s all super critical.”