For Release: August 24, 1999

Contact: Richard Sisson 222-3075 or 789-3094

PROVIDENCE -The Department of Environmental Management yesterday filed modifications to fishing regulations designed to ensure fulfillment of the state's commercial quota for scup and to reduce user conflicts in the menhaden fishery. The changes were approved by the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council at its July 27 public meeting.

To ensure that Rhode Island's allocation of the Atlantic coast scup quota is harvested in its entirety, the new modifications provide that after September 1, fisheries utilizing gear other than fish traps can harvest the remainder of the yearly scup allocation. Trap fisheries will be allowed a small daily catch, as well.

The state receives an annual quota of scup from the Mid Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, and manages the harvest of that 598,000 pound quota to its best advantage. The quota is allocated into two categories: floating trap, and "other" gear. In some years, due to variables such as time of scup migration, the quota in the floating trap fishery may not be met.

Changes to the menhaden regulations reflect compromises between recreational and commercial fishermen and identify specific areas and seasons where menhaden may be commercially harvested. They establish a season from June 1 through August 31, during which menhaden can be commercially harvested for reduction purposes. The new regulations also prohibit use of a purse seine for catching menhaden in Greenwich Bay and its tributaries, and in the Providence River north of a line from Gaspee Point to Bullocks Point on Sundays and state holidays. In addition, a seasonal prohibition on the commercial use of purse seines has been established between August 15 and January 1 annually in the Providence River north of a line from Conimicut Point to Nayatt Point, and in the Hope Island management area.

The menhaden regulatory changes stem from a management proposal negotiated by Ark Bait fishing company and the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association in a cooperative effort to balance the need for a constant supply of recreational gamefish and for bait supplied by commercial fishermen to the lobster industry and to some bait shops. Historically, recreational fishermen have felt that the amount of game fish available is directly related to the amount of menhaden harvested by commercial netters.