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Commercial Fisheries
 		 
News Release
RI Department of Environmental Management
235 Promenade St., Providence, RI 02908
(401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
For Release: October 29, 2001
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM REOPENS COMMERCIAL SPINY DOGFISH FISHERY ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has announced that commercial fishermen will be permitted to harvest, possess and land spiny dogfish in Rhode Island waters beginning on Thursday, November 1.

The opening of this fishery complements the opening of the commercial dogfish fishery in federal waters. Last June, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission required that Rhode Island waters be closed to the commercial harvest of spiny dogfish to complement the closure of this fishery within federal waters.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has established a coastwide quota of four million pounds for spiny dogfish. The quota is divided into two periods: May 1 - October 31, 2001 (2,316,000 pounds), and November 1 - April 30, 2002 (1,684,000 pounds). All spiny dogfish landed for sale in the states from Maine through Florida will be counted towards the commercial quota, regardless of where the spiny dogfish are harvested. Commercial fishermen holding a federal license will be permitted to possess 300 pounds per day from November 1 through April 30, 2002 or until the quota is harvested.

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