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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
| For Release: |
May 11, 2005 |
| Contact: |
Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418 |
DEM ANNOUNCES CHANGES TO COMMERCIAL AND
RECREATIONAL FISHERIES REGULATIONS THAT TAKE EFFECT ON MAY 26
PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces
changes to the commercial and recreational fisheries regulations based
on proposed amendments presented at a public hearing on March 14 and
further discussed at a RI Marine Fisheries Council meeting on March 16.
The changes, which take effect on May 26, take into consideration
comments made at both the public hearing and the RIMFC meeting; however,
some changes are required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries
Commission (ASMFC).
Commercial fisheries changes are as follows:
 | Scup: An increase in the minimum mesh size
requirements for trawlers from 4.5 inches to 5 inches when 500 pounds
or more of scup are being landed between November 1 and April 30, or
when 200 pounds or more of scup are being landed between May 1 and
October 31. The 200-pound threshhold is also new and replaces the
previous 100-pound threshhold for the May 1- October 31 period. The
changes are required by the ASMFC. The increased mesh size is intended
to keep smaller fish from being trapped, thereby decreasing the number
of dead discarded fish.
|
| Striped Bass: Bumps up the date when the floating
fish trap quota to be made available to the entire commercial striped
bass fishery from October 15 to October 1, but only with respect to
any excess poundage over the newly established 10,000 pound set aside,
which replaces the 10 percent set aside. Any remaining poundage in the
set aside is then made available in full to the entire striped bass
commercial fishery on October 15. The change is intended to improve
the management of the striped bass commercial fishery by allowing for
more efficient and safe utilization of the quota.
|
| Winter Flounder: Modifies the minimum mesh size
requirements for bottom trawl nets on all vessels fishing for and
possessing winter flounder and for all gill nets. Also prohibits the
use of certain devises or materials on the top of bottom trawl nets
that would constrict or obstruct the openings of the mesh. The changes
are required by the ASMFC, and mirror the federal groundfish plan
(Amendment 13) provisions for federal waters. Fyke nets are exempt.
|
| Black Sea Bass: Reallocates the commercial black
sea bass quota for the summer 2 (August - October) period - increasing
it from 25 percent to 39 percent - and the winter 2 (November -
December) period - decreasing it from 25 percent to 11 percent. The
change is intended to keep the fishery open during the summer 2
period.
|
| Shad: Enacts a year-round closure in marine
waters as required by ASMFC mandate. The closure is in response to the
coastwide decline of the shad fishery. |
Recreational fisheries changes are as follows:
| Scup: Establishes a new, four-month season,
running from July 1 through October 31. For everyone other than those
fishing from a party or charter boat, the daily bag limit is decreased
from 50 to 25 fish. For those fishing from a party or charter boat,
the daily bag limit is 25 fish from July 1 to August 31 and 60 fish
from September 1 to October 31. The changes are required by ASMFC
mandates.
|
| Black Sea Bass: Eliminates the closed periods
that were in place, rendering the fishery open year-round. The change
reflects an increase in the status of the black sea bass stock.
|
| Winter Flounder: Modifies the spring season by
shifting the opening from the third to the fourth Saturday in April
and closing it 30 days, rather than 37 days, later. Also shortens the
fall season from 31 to 30 days. The changes, which do not affect the
spring season currently underway, are required by ASMFC mandates. |
The regulations also expand the spawner sanctuary - within which the
taking of shellfish is prohibited - in Ninigret Pond in Charlestown. The
new, expanded area is intended to allow seeded shellfish from the North
Cape Restoration Project to grow undisturbed.
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