Narragansett Bay and Local Applicability
Better Bay Alliance (BBA) | February 2023
Objectives:
- Narragansett Bay hazards
- Newport Harbor entrance/speed limit
- Fish Traps off Newport and in the Bay
- Currents
- Introduction of Eldridges
Local Applicability
Narragansett Bay Hazards
Harbor Entrance
Things to note:
- Harbor entrance traffic
- Speed limit
- Anchorage area
- North of Rose Island
Fish Trap Areas
Things to note:
- Large areas authorized by DEM for fish traps in the bay and in southern RI waters
- DEM latest interactive permit map
- Most traps in the bay are for aquaculture (oysters) and are poorly marked
- Traps can be barrels with cable between barrels just below waterline (offshore)
- Markings at edge of traps have buoys with flags, but are difficult to see, especially in heavy weather
- Several located around Narragansett Bay, and several located south of the bay offshore and in south county aquaculture farms
Local Applicability
Other Narragansett Bay Hazards
Harbor Entrance
Things to note:
- Conimicut Point
- Despair Island
- Spar Islands
- Halfway Rock
- Navy Jetty
- Brenton Reef
Eldridge Tide and Pilot Book
- Outstanding local resource of info on Narragansett Bay and beyond to much of east coasts
- Tide Tables
- Current Tables and Diagrams
- Safe Navigation
- Lights, Signals, and Buoys
- Communication protocols
- Astronomical Data (sun/moon/planets)
- Flags & Codes
- Miscellaneous useful info
