To Farm or Not to Farm... in Our Public Waters | Perry Raso | TEDxBoston

The increasing demand for seafood, coupled with a plateauing and in some cases declining production from our wild capture fisheries, has created the need for aquaculture more now than ever in human history. However, impacts of aquaculture range from practices that result in environmental degradation to farming methods that are among the most environmentally sustainable forms of agriculture which produce food while resulting in ecosystem benefits.

Currently, 90% of seafood consumed in the US is imported. The future of sustainable seafood production will require increased farming of primary producers and primary consumers, and the continued improvement of the farming methods of higher trophic level fish. Equally as important, society must accept sustainable aquaculture in our waters. Perry started digging littlenecks in Point Judith Pond when he was 12 years old. He grew up harvesting shellfish, eel trapping, bull-raking clams, and scuba diving for steamers, as well as working on draggers and lobster boats out of Pt Judith, RI.

Before he opened Matunuck Oyster Bar, he was an oyster farmer. Graduating from URI with a bachelors and master’s degree, Raso studied aquaculture and fisheries technology.
In 2002 he founded Matunuck Oyster Farm, a wading depth shellfish farm, on Potter Pond in East Matunuck (South Kingstown), RI.

He bought a waterfront clam shack in 2009 on the pond where his oyster farm exists to provide a place for work boats to access the farm, and a place to sell fresh oysters from the farm. In 2009 he opened the restaurant and in 2011 he started growing organic vegetables to provide guests with fresh local produce.

Most recently he started a shellfish hatchery across the street from the restaurant. He has been doing educational oyster farm tours since 2002 and has traveled to several developing countries to consult on various aquaculture operations. Education and giving back has always been at the core of the business. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx