Outdoors in RI: Plan Now for the Beaches, Newport Seal Tours, Aquaculture Course at URI

Winter is the perfect time to plan for the upcoming beach season at the Ocean State’s spectacular state beaches! The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that 2026 state beach season parking passes are available. You can purchase resident, non-resident, or senior parking passes online at www.beachparkingri.com.

Online season parking passes can take up to 24 hours to validate but returning online customers with unchanged registration and contact information can now skip the verification process. Physical passes are no longer used at the state beaches as pass status is linked to license plates. License plate recognition allows for fast entry, and pass holders can use express lanes at most state beaches. Season passes allow access to all eight state beaches but don’t guarantee entry – parking is first-come, first-served.

Starting Wednesday, Jan. 21, in-person pass purchases are available at the LAZ Parking office at Fishermen’s Memorial State Park & Campground (1011 Point Judith Rd, Narragansett), open Wednesday – Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM (closed Weekends and holidays). Expanded hours begin on Monday, April 6: Monday – Friday 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Saturday 8 AM – 4 PM.

“During the cold days of winter, look ahead to this summer’s beach days by buying your 2026 state beach season parking pass,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “The more beachgoers who buy their parking passes ahead of time, the faster we’ll all be able get on our beautiful state beaches during the busy summer ahead.”

No-cost disability beach parking passes are available for eligible individuals; contact RI State Parks Headquarters at 401-667-6200 for more information. Seniors 65+ can get a discounted pass, but an eligible senior must be present in the vehicle with an ID. If not, the car will be required to pay the full day-use parking fee. Season passes are non-refundable, so be sure you purchase the correct pass based on residency and/or age.

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Enjoy Narragansett Bay all year long – Take a Seal Tour

Think summertime is the only time to enjoy Narragansett Bay? Migratory harbor seals disagree! These “dogs of the sea” love the chilly waters of a wintertime Bay—in fact, it’s the only time of year they stop by. For more than 20 years, Save The Bay has been offering seal watch tours and nature cruises giving you the perfect opportunity to enjoy the cooler months, while observing local wildlife.

Don’t miss your chance to see the Rhode Island state marine mammal at play. Plan your Seal Tour or Nature Cruise today—after all, the cold weather won’t last forever! For information about purchasing tickets or gift certificates, call 401-203-SEAL(7325)*.

The Newport Seal Tours are approximately 1 hour and run from November to April. They depart from Perrotti Park, 37 America’s Cup Ave. Newport, R.I.

Cost: $25, non-members; $20, Save The Bay members, seniors, children aged 3-12; $0, children under 3 years

MORE INFO:  https://savebay.org/family-fun/seals/

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Aquaculture training course to cover best practices and business strategies 

The 12-session, non-matriculating course will be offered in-person and virtually

Instructors Rob Hudson and Azure Cygler draw upon their experience of working in the aquaculture industry when teaching the aquaculture training course. (Photos courtesy of Rhode Island Sea Grant)

For the second year, Rhode Island Sea Grant will offer an intermediate-level aquaculture training course titled “Beyond the Basics for Businesses and Practitioners.”

The 12-session course will be held virtually and at the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Institute on the Narragansett Bay Campus on Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. starting Jan. 20.

The target audience includes early- or mid-career aquaculture professionals, aquaculture farm workers, and recent college graduates looking for practical and applied understanding of the aquaculture industry.

The course will again be led by Azure Cygler and Rob Hudson, Rhode Island Sea Grant Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension specialists. Some of the topics will include industry best practices, business strategies, and sustainable operations.

Azure Cygler and Rob Hudson, pictured in front of laptops, conducted the aquaculture training course last year in a conference room at URI’s Coastal Institute, with many of the participants livestreaming the course online from around the world.

“While several excellent introductory aquaculture courses and trainings exist, especially in New England, there was a deficit in specific aspects of running a business,” said Cygler. “Folks know how to farm and where to get information and training on farming but running a successful and profitable business is another ball game. National Sea Grant recognized this deficit and made a grant program that addresses this gap.”

According to Cygler, the aquaculture industry continues to grow and those who work in the industry have found ways to farm and operate more efficiently, but many could use guidance on their business practices.

“There are many exceptional farmers growing superior shellfish and seaweed, but many businesses struggle with the basics, such as managing money, writing grants, creating diverse business portfolios that go beyond food production, ensuring workers are healthy, and that their farms are insured properly,” said Cygler. “If these things are not in place over the long term, capacity suffers.”

Each session features a different topic, a presentation from a guest speaker or aquaculture professional, and a group discussion. Last year, 65 people registered for the course.

“The feedback we received was very positive,” said Cygler. “In fact, some participants from last year are joining us again this year.”

The course fee is $250. For more details on the course, visit Rhode Island Sea Grant.

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Send us your outdoor “news” and To-Do’s at: news@rinewstoday.com