DEM APPROVES ONE PERMIT, WITH CONDITIONS, FOR NEW FISH TRAP SITE NEAR HARBOR OF REFUGE

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

For Release:	October 11, 2002
Contact:	Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402 Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

DEM APPROVES ONE PERMIT, WITH CONDITIONS, FOR NEW FISH TRAP SITE NEAR HARBOR OF REFUGE
Second Site Denied Due to Potential Navigational Conflicts

PROVIDENCE -The Department of Environmental Management has approved the application for a fish trap permit for a new site near the Harbor of Refuge in Point Judith, and denied the application for a permit for a second site in the area because of navigational concerns.

DEM approved the issuance of a permit to Thomas Hoxie of Narragansett for site #400-23, located on the ocean side of the west wall. The approved permit, which must be renewed annually, is subject to a seasonal restriction, requiring Hoxie to remove the new trap by June 15. It also includes a limitation that Hoxie, who already has permits for traps at three sites in the area, will fish no more than three traps at one time, meaning no net increase over the existing permitted activity. Both conditions will help to mitigate the concerns of recreational fishermen, who expressed strong opposition to Hoxie's application during its review before the RI Marine Fisheries Council and at an associated public hearing.

DEM denied Hoxie's application for a permit for the second site, #470-29, located on the ocean side of the middle wall. According to DEM Director Jan Reitsma, the Department's denial was due to the significant potential for navigational conflict that would exist if a trap were deployed at that site. That determination was based on public comment, input received by DEM's Division of Enforcement, and Reitsma's own personal observations made during a site visit with DEM staff on September 13.

The Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council had recommended issuance of permits to Hoxie for site #400-23 and to Carl Grandquist for site #470-29. DEM was unable to concur with the Council's recommendation for two reasons. First, it was determined by DEM that Grandquist lacked standing, relative to Hoxie, regarding site #470-29 due to prior inactivation of his permit application. Second, DEM determined that, due to navigational concerns, site #470-29 was an inappropriate location for a fish trap (thus rending moot the question of whether Grandquist or Hoxie was the eligible applicant.)

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