DEM PRESENTS PROPOSED COMMERCIAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN AND LICENSING REGULATIONS TO RI MARINE FISHERIES COUNCIL

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Proposed Management Plan and Licensing Regulations

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

For Release:	August 30, 2002
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM PRESENTS PROPOSED COMMERCIAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN AND LICENSING REGULATIONS TO RI MARINE FISHERIES COUNCIL
Public Workshops to Discuss Plan to be Scheduled

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management last night presented its proposed commercial fisheries management process to the RI Marine Fisheries Council for its review and advice.

The fisheries licensing reform act passed this spring by the Rhode Island legislature required DEM, with the review and advice of the RI Marine Fisheries Council, to have a new licensing system for commercial fishing in place by January 1, 2003. The proposed plan includes license provisions for restricted as well as non-restricted fisheries. It also includes draft management plans for the shellfish (particularly quahaug) and lobster fisheries, and for finfish that have catch quotas imposed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Council or the New England Marine Fisheries Council.

The reform bill requires implementation of the fisheries reforms as a precondition of ending the current state moratorium on commercial fishing licenses.

Public workshops to discuss the proposals will be scheduled by the RI Marine Fisheries Council, and DEM staff are making themselves available to brief industry groups upon request.

The proposals are contained in a document that is divided into eight sections: 1) timelines and milestones; 2) proposed implementing regulations; 3) the 2002 commercial fisheries management act; 4) guidance: the marine fisheries management process; 5) proposed fees, 6) management plan for shellfish; 7) management plan for lobster; and 8) management plan for quota managed finfish.

The document can be found on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, after September 3, by clicking on "Publications." It will also be available for review at DEM's Fish and Wildlife main office at the Oliver Stedman Government Center in Wakefield during normal business hours. Copies of the document, or of sections of particular interest, are also available by calling DEM at 222-6605 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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