Governor's Bay Day

An annual celebration that invites everyone to get outside and enjoy Rhode Island's beautiful coastline and Narragansett Bay.

Governor's Bay Day

Summer is a magical time in Rhode Island.  Our beautiful waters and abundant fisheries, sandy beaches, and historic parks are a big reason why. Celebrated in Rhode Island since 1989, the first Governor's Bay Day was held in the wake of the World Prodigy oil spill. It began as an effort to showcase the beauty and value of Narragansett Bay and to highlight the ongoing threats it faces. Today, Bay Day continues to honor this original intent.

This year marks the 35th Bay Day celebration, and will be held on Sunday, July 28, 2024. The day includes free parking at all Rhode Island state beaches.

The public is also invited to fish in Rhode Island saltwaters without a saltwater fishing license from Friday, July 26 to Sunday, July 28.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) also will waive the roundtrip fare on all service to South County beaches on Route 66 (URI/Galilee). Service to the beach will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

"There's nothing like summer in Rhode Island and I think we're all ready to enjoy our beautiful waters, sandy beaches, and abundant fisheries. This Bay Day, I invite Rhode Islanders to head to the beach, drop a fishing line in Narragansett Bay, and experience all of the natural resources the Ocean State has to offer." - Governor Dan McKee

Parking will be free at all state beaches, which are:

Governor's Bay Day encourages families to enjoy Rhode Island's outdoor public spaces and engage in an active lifestyle while also highlighting the economic value of our natural resources. It also encourages us to protect our natural places by keeping Rhody litter free. Rhode Island's natural and public assets – including eight saltwater beaches, 8,200 acres of parkland, 1,000 campsites, 400 miles of hiking and biking trails, 200 fishing spots, and 25 parks and nature preserves – are magnets, attracting more than 9 million Rhode Islanders and tourists a year. They're also an engine that adds an estimated $315 million to the economy, generating nearly $40 million in state and local taxes and supporting nearly 4,000 jobs a year.

Saltwater fishing also is an important driver for the state's economy. Rhode Island's marine recreational fishing industry contributes $420 million to the economy and supports over 4,000 jobs. Although the free fishing days provide an opportunity for everyone to fish without a license, they also serve as a reminder that saltwater licenses are required on every day except on Bay Day, and that the license program provides vital support for Rhode Island's recreational fishing interests. The cost of a yearly RI license is $7 for Rhode Island residents, and $10 for non-residents.

History of Governor’s Bay Day

Spill response and clean-up at the oil spill site. Clean up workers use absorbent material to clean-up and wipe down the shoreline. Image credit: NOAA Damage Assessment and Restoration Program

A clean-up worker in the process of skimming oil as part of the clean-up process. Image credit: NOAA Damage Assessment and Restoration Program

Art Ganz, RI DEM, empties a rake filled with quahogs to test for contaminants. Image credit: NOAA Restoration Center, Tom and Louise Kane

Hull Cove, Jamestown, RI. Image credit: C. Powell

Restoration workers beginning to harvest eelgrass for use at a transplant site. — A slide showing restoration workers beginning to harvest eelgrass for use at a transplant site. Image credit: NOAA Restoration Center

Fish sampling at Sachuest Marsh. Fyke nets were used to sample resident populations of fish before and after the restoration. Image credit: NOAA Restoration Center, John Catena

While most recognize the "perks" of this annual event, including free state beach parking, waived fees on RIPTA's beach bus, and no-license-needed recreational saltwater fishing, today marks 35 years since a major oil spill marred the waters of Narragansett Bay.

Often referred to as the heart of Rhode Island, Narragansett Bay is a vital resource that provides countless outdoor recreation opportunities and supports the livelihood of thousands. Covering close to 147 miles, the Bay forms the largest natural estuary in New England. Our connection with it is all at once natural, recreational, aesthetic, cultural, economic, and spiritual.

The first of two significant oil spills DEM has responded to was also the catalyst for Governor's Bay Day. It occurred on June 23, 1989, when the tanker MV World Prodigy, en route from Bulgaria to Providence, ran aground on a reef about four miles from Brenton Point State Park in Newport. Immediately before the accident, the vessel was observed operating out of the shipping channel, closer to the Brenton Reef than it should have been. The collision caused the release of nearly 300,000 gallons of oil, which spread over 123 square miles and washed ashore, killing fish and sea birds, and closing beaches and shellfishing beds. While much of the oil evaporated, the clean-up cost nearly $2 million. After the collision, both the captain and company pleaded guilty to violations of the Clean Water Act.

Many organizations were involved to find a solution to the disaster. DEM, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), US Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Coast Guard, along with partners such as the University of Rhode Island and Save The Bay - Narragansett Bay, worked together to create a restoration plan following the spill. Projects included restocking wildlife populations, including lobsters and quahogs, and protecting and enhancing their habitats. This incident and other disturbances have illustrated the need to improve both the ecological and social resilience of coastal environments.

Governor’s Bay Day reminds us of the importance of environmental stewardship and the fragility of our natural resources. We invite everyone to honor this legacy by getting outdoors and joining us on the shore to swim, fish, or just enjoy the views for a day of appreciation for Rhode Island’s coastal wonders! From sandy beaches to abundant fisheries and historic parks, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Learn more on the spill and restoration efforts. Photos courtesy of NOAA Restoration Center.