DEM ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL FISHERIES CHANGES

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News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462

For Release:	September 25, 2001
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM ANNOUNCES COMMERCIAL FISHERIES CHANGES
ASMFC Rules Establish Limits for Black Sea Bass and Scup; Striped Bass Fishery Closes as Quota for Year is Reached

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management announces the closure of the commercial fishery for striped bass, effective Thursday, September 27, and possession limit adjustments for the commercial black sea bass and scup fisheries.

Based on currently reported catch rates, DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife projects that the entire 107,730-pound quota of striped bass allocated to Rhode Island by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) for the year 2001 will be harvested by September 27.

In addition, the ASMFC has recently approved two emergency rules for the commercial black sea bass and scup fisheries. The possession limit for black sea bass in the October 1 - December 31 quarter will be 300 pounds per day until the 516,939-pound federal quota is harvested. The November 1 - December 31 period for scup will begin with a possession limit of 2,000 pounds per day until 70 percent of the federal quota (approximately 320,000 pounds) is projected to be harvested, at which time the daily possession limit will drop to 500 pounds. All states along the Atlantic Coast are required by the ASMFC to establish these limits.

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