Top photo: Robert Ballou (left) of DEM’s Fish & Wildlife Division answers questions from anglers as he and his staff issue saltwater fishing licenses at the New England Saltwater Fishing Show this weekend at the Rhode Island Convention Center.
Bottom photo: Lisa DiRaimo, executive director of the RI Marine Trades Association, answers a question from Peter Magnan (right) of No Fluke Charters in the Boats Work for Rhode Island booth at the Saltwater Fishing Show this weekend.
The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council met last week and approved many saltwater recreational fishing regulation recommendations for the 2011 season. The recommendations have been passed along to Janet Coit, director of the Department of Environmental Management (DEM), for her consideration and approval. A final decision on most regulations is expected to occur by month’s end.
Here are four popular species targeted by recreational anglers and what was recommended by the council.
Striped bass regulation recommendations are the same as last year or as the recommendation reads “status quo”… two fish/angler/day and a size limit of 28” or larger with an open season.
The Fluke (summer flounder) bio mass has rebuilt nicely so the recommendation is to loosen regulations to seven fish/angler/day (up one fish per day from last year) at a minimum size of 18 ½” (was 19 ½” last year) with a May 1 to December 31 season. A new twist (that may or may not be approved) is that for shore anglers only, one of the seven fish can be 16 ½”. The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) advocated for this special shore angler recommendation.
The scup bio mass is rebuilding nicely too. The council approved a status quo recommendation which is a ten fish/angler/day limit with a 10.5” size limit and a season from May 24 to September 25. Party and charter boats have an 11” size limit with a June 8 to September 6 season at ten fish/angler/day and a September 7 to October 11 season at a 40 fish/angler/day limit.
Tautog is being managed more carefully with reduced split seasons and the same size limit of 16”… April 15 to May 31 and then August 1 to October 15, both at a three fish/day limit and then a six fish/day limit from October 16 to December 15. A twelve fish per vessel limit is recommended which does not apply to charter and party boasts along with an eight fish per angler limit for those fishing on charter and party boats.
As related, all of the above RIMFC recommendations are expected to be considered with approved regulations being made by Janet Coit, DEM director, by the end of month.
New England Saltwater Fishing Show big success
Show organizers and exhibitors said the New England Saltwater Fishing Show this past weekend at the Rhode Island Convection Center was a big success. Exhibitors felt more people attended the show on Friday (in particular) than ever before. Steve Medeiros, president of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA), sponsors of the show, said, “I do not know why, but attendance Friday was particularly good with good sales reported by many vendors.” Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marine, South Kingstown, RI, said, “Activity in our booth Friday was very good, we had more sales Friday than ever before and today (Saturday) has been very good as well.”
Lisa DiRaimo, executive director of the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association and their Boat Works for Rhode Island initiative, said, “We have participated in the RISAA fishing show for a number of years. Attendance this year was great.” Boat Works has over 180 member companies and institutions including marine training schools and programs, boat manufactures, marine support industries and supply firms. Ms. DiRaimo said, "With a mission of marine industry advocacy, education and job development we had a lot of interest at the booth in regard to the new boating tax proposed by the governor as well as questions about the education and job opportunities in the marine industry.” Boats Work for Rhode Island is a workforce development initiative that advocates for some of Rhode Island’s greatest assets… Narragansett Bay, the Atlantic Ocean and the marine industry. According to a recent study quoted by Boats Work for Rhode Island, the marine industry has over 2,000 businesses, 6,600 jobs and generates $260-million in wages in Rhode Island (the industry represents nearly 10% of all private employers in Rhode Island).
Saltwater fishing license activity brisk at Fishing Show
DEM’s department of Fish & Wildlife was very busy at the fishing show issuing State fishing licenses. Robert Ballou, acting chief of the Fish & Wildlife Division, was at the show himself on Friday and Saturday answering angler questions and processes State fishing licenses with his staff. At about 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Mr. Ballou said, “We have processed about 200 licenses so far.”
Rhode Island's recreational saltwater license program took effect in 2010. It provides recreational saltwater anglers and spear fishermen with a convenient, cost-effective way to meet new federal requirements without having to register federally. The cost of the license is $7 per year for RI residents and $10 per year for non-residents (compared to a $15 cost for a federal license). A temporary seven-day license is also available for $5. The license is free for anglers who are over 65 years of age and for active military personnel who are stationed in RI. No license is required of anglers under 16 years of age, for anglers fishing on licensed charter and party boats, for anglers who are on leave from active military duty, and for anglers who are blind or permanently disabled.
The license program is expected to generate better data to manage fisheries at the state, regional and federal level. Recreational anglers are now accessible for surveys and studies because contact information will be available. Better data and science helps fish mangers do a better job as policy is based on more facts rather than projections.
If you registered last year you must register again this year. Licenses can be obtained online at: http://www.saltwater.ri.gov/. Licenses may also be obtained at participating vendors, which are listed on the website.
Sen. Sosnowski: Give fishermen a say in offshore energy projects
The Senate has approved a resolution sponsored by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski calling on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) to involve fishermen in the development of offshore energy projects.Senator Sosnowski is the chairwoman of the Senate Task Force on Fisheries, which was established to provide a forum for individuals and organizations in the fishing community to present their ideas and the challenges they face.
In her resolution (2011-S0137), Sosnowski requested that BOEMRE include official representation of offshore fishermen on the Rhode Island Offshore Renewable Energy Task Force.“Offshore fishermen should certainly be included on a task force that is making decisions that could affect their livelihoods,” said Senator Sosnowski. “This will provide many opportunities for them to participate in all review and permitting phases of offshore renewable energy projects and outline how, exactly, these projects could affect the fishing industry in the state.”The resolution also calls on the BOEMRE to establish a mitigation policy for all offshore development projects that would require developers to provide mitigation to fishermen who are negatively impacted by these projects.
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