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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM & RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN WILL RECONVENE ON DECEMBER 15TH TO EVALUATE NEW SALTWATER ANGLER REGISTRY PROGRAM PROVIDENCE - The next meeting of the RI Marine Recreational Fishing License/Registry Study Group will be held on Monday, December 15 from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. at the URI Bay Campus in Narragansett (*more details on location below).The Study Group was launched in October for the purpose of evaluating the new national Saltwater Angler Registry Program and assessing its implications for Rhode Island recreational fishermen. The Group is co-chaired by DEM and the R.I. Saltwater Anglers Association (RISAA) and includes 15 representatives of recreational fishing interests and organizations from throughout the State. On November 10th, the Group held its first public meeting, at which Gordon Colvin, Team Leader for the National Saltwater Angler Registry Team at the National Marine Fisheries Service, explained the new federal program and how it will apply to Rhode Island fishermen. The power point presentation given by Mr. Colvin can be found online on the DEM website at: www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/reclic.htm. The new federal program is slated to take effect next year. Under the program, anyone who fishes in federal waters (3-200 miles from shore), as well as anyone who fishes anywhere for anadromous species such as striped bass, will have to register. The purpose of the program is to improve the quality of recreational saltwater fishing data and thereby improve the management of fish stocks that are important to saltwater anglers. The new registry is intended to serve as a more efficient and effective route for collecting recreational fishing data than currently exists. The new federal law allows anglers to be exempt from federal registration requirements if they fish in a state that has its own registry or licensing program. Rhode Island has no such program, but the Study Group is poised to consider that as a potential alternative, after evaluating the implications of the new federal requirements. At the upcoming December 15th meeting, the Group will review and discuss the details of the federal program, as presented at the last meeting. The meeting is open to the public. -30- *The meeting will be held in the Hazard Conference Room, Coastal Institute, URI Bay Campus, South Ferry Road, Narragansett. Directions can be found at: www.gso.uri.edu/files/directions.pdf. |
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