The Rhode Island aquaculture industry is more robust than ever. The value of aquaculture products was $8,795,493 in 2024 and 89 active aquaculture farms covered 392.5 acres, according to a report by the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council.
Eastern oysters account for approximately 99% of the state’s aquaculture production, the report noted. Jacqueline Rosa, who is pursuing her master’s degree in oceanography from GSO, spent 18 months conducting field work on how water quality and farming practices impact these mollusks.
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To examine the environmental conditions, Rosa deployed two sensors at Wickford Oyster Company’s 4-acre farm in May 2024, one at the surface of the water and one at the bottom of the water column.
Rosa revisited the farm each week to collect water samples from the surface and the bottom. She brought the samples to the Ocean Carbon Laboratory at the Graduate School of Oceanography for analysis.
“I tested the samples for pH, salinity, alkalinity, and dissolved inorganic carbon,” said Rosa, who is from Newtown, Connecticut. “These carbonate chemistry parameters help us understand trends in ocean acidification and how changing conditions may impact calcifying organisms. Shifts in carbonate chemistry can influence shell formation, growth rates, and survival, particularly during early-life stages, making these measurements critical for understanding potential stressors for farmed oysters.”
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“Jacque’s research fills a critical data gap by establishing baseline water quality conditions in oyster-farming areas,” said Wang. “Our hypothesis is that oyster mortality is linked to specific, abnormal environmental conditions, such as low dissolved oxygen and/or pH. By pairing continuous water quality observations with oyster performance data, this project provides the foundation needed to evaluate whether observed mortality events are environmentally driven.”
Rosa collected and tested 127 water samples. She also maintained the sensors, replacing them with a newly calibrated set every few months.
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“These findings will support Rhode Island’s growing aquaculture industry by optimizing cultivation strategies to meet the growing demand for sustainable seafood,” Rosa said.
Wang has been impressed with the initiative Rosa has demonstrated.
“Jacque has taken ownership of the work and is leading the project independently, from field operations to laboratory processing and data organization,” said Wang.
After Rosa graduates this May, she wants to work in Rhode Island as a research scientist.
“I’m interested in conducting research and community outreach that supports local, sustainable seafood and continues to bridge the gap between science and industry,” said Rosa.
The University of Rhode Island, 20 January 2026. Article.
