The Relationship Between Aquaculture And The Public Trust In Connecticut, Massachusetts, And Rhode Island

This guide is a product of the Marine Affairs Institute at Roger Williams University School of Law and the Rhode Island Sea Grant Legal Program. Andrew Spaulding, Rhode Island Sea Grant Law Fellow, authored this fact sheet under the guidance of Julia Wyman, Director, and Catherine Schluter, Research Attorney. All errors and omissions are the responsibility of the Marine Affairs Institute. This study is provided only for informational and educational purposes and is not legal advice. The goal of this article is to improve the public’s understanding of the public trust doctrine and the use of public waters for shellfish aquaculture in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. First, this article will discuss the United States Supreme Court’s interpretation of the public trust doctrine. Second, the article will address how Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island apply the public trust doctrine, and more specifically, how the public trust applies to aquaculture activity.