[DEM-Coastal] Port of Galilee_budget announcement

[DEM-Coastal]

To the Port of Galilee's Commercial Fishing Fleet and DEM's Neighbors:



>From its origin in the mid-1900s as a cluster of fishing shacks to its status today as the 12th-highest ranked port by landings value nationwide whose products are served around the world, Galilee is an economic and jobs powerhouse, and a working port and fact of life for hundreds of commercial fishermen, businesses that support them, and their families.



Owned by the State of Rhode Island, Galilee is run by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to support the commercial fishing industry and the web of businesses that keep the port working. These include fish processors, engine repair companies, seafood distributors, ice producers, bait suppliers, restaurants, and many others. All told, RI's commercial fisheries and seafood sector accounts for more than 3,100 jobs and $538  million in gross sales, according to a 2017 URI study. Counting spillover effects across all sectors of the RI economy, fisheries and seafood support more than 4,300 jobs and nearly $420 million in economic impact.



Yesterday, DEM got some great news: Governor Dan McKee's proposed fiscal year 2023 budget includes $46 million from federal funds to continue the massive work of upgrading essential infrastructure that DEM has already begun at the Port of Galilee. Currently, DEM has four projects underway in the North Bulkhead area of the port. Totaling nearly $15 million in investments, these projects range from replacing nearly 1,000 feet of bulkhead - to replacing heavy-duty piers to asphalt repair work to electrical upgrades.



A lot goes into keeping a port functioning efficiently. Over time, any fixed asset declines in usefulness and value because of physical deterioration, normal wear and tear, and/or accidental damage. A working port serving 240 fishing vessels and crews and supporting a whole web of shoreside businesses, however, is far from a typical fixed asset. A port is a dynamic marine environment that is subject to tide, wind, sun, waves, salt, storms, storm surges, sea level rise, and many other conditions and factors. Its need for scale to achieve efficiencies means that large fishing vessels are constantly coming and going. Even routine daily loading and unloading of commercial fishing vessels causes significant wear and tear to docks and piers. Also, the work that is performed in a port is physically demanding and complex. It requires speed and a vast network of supporting infrastructure (electricity, water distribution, ice and refrigeration, wastewater discharge, septage, engine and equipment repair, cleaning, garbage and waste collection, etc.) to unload, handle, process, store, and market fish and seafood.





The $46 million proposed by Governor McKee is extra funding that will extend the life of the Port of Galilee - and ensure it remains a vital commercial fishing port where vessels up and down the East Coast land fresh seafood products. If approved by the Rhode Island General Assembly, this budget item will capitalize projects that confront problems related to deferred maintenance, expand far beyond the scope of current infrastructure upgrades, and bolster Galilee against  climate change and sea level rise. This funding will secure the North Bulkhead section of the port and beyond, will replace docks, update parking lot G, and will update the electrical and water infrastructure.





I'm delighted to share with you today that thanks to the Governor's commitment, Galilee's future looks brighter than ever. I ask that you reach out to your elected officials to urge their support of his budget.



Thank you!




Daniel Costa
PORT MANAGER
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Division of Coastal Resources
Port of Galilee
301 Great Island Rd.
Narragansett, RI 02882
401-782-4587
Dan.Costa at dem.ri.gov<mailto:Dan.Costa at dem.ri.gov>


Olivia Chatowsky
IMPLEMENTATION AIDE
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
Division of Coastal Resources
Port of Galilee
301 Great Island Rd
Narragansett, RI 02882
401-515-7406
Olivia.Chatowsky at dem.ri.gov<mailto:Olivia.Chatowsky at dem.ri.gov>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://listserve.ri.gov/pipermail/dem-coastal/attachments/20220121/889973f6/attachment.html