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News Release RI Department of Environmental Management 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908 (401) 222-2771 TDD/(401) 222-4462
DEM ANNOUNCES NEW REPORT ON STATUS OF RHODE ISLAND FISHERIES STOCK PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management has submitted its 2004 fisheries report, Rhode Island Fisheries Stock Status, to the General Assembly.The 21-page report includes information on the status of fish stocks important to Rhode Island and a number of supportive charts and graphs, as well as descriptions of several assessment studies in which the DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife is engaged. The report notes that considerable progress was made last year to address excessive fishing rates and rebuild fish stocks to healthy levels. In 2003, four fish stocks - striped bass, summer flounder, black sea bass, and weakfish - were fully rebuilt, and a record number of species were removed from the list of overfished stocks. The report also credits the fishing industry for making a great effort to end overfishing practices for stocks considered depleted and at low levels of biomass, such as winter flounder, lobster, horseshoe crab, and sturgeon. The report was produced pursuant to legislation regarding commercial fishing licenses adopted by the General Assembly in 2002, and is available on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Marine Fisheries" under "Topics." -30- |
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