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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 HAS STOCKED WINTER TROUT AND ATLANTIC SALMON BROODSTOCK IN ANTICIPATION OF ICE FISHING PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife this week stocked 1,000 winter trout and close to 200 surplus domestic Atlantic salmon broodstock in several locations throughout the state. The stocking was done in anticipation of the winter ice-fishing season. However, despite Tuesday's extreme cold, there is no safe ice at this time, nor will there be any safe ice in the immediate future.Trout and salmon stocking locations include Olney Pond in Lincoln, Stafford Pond in Tiverton, Barber Pond in South Kingstown, Meadowbrook Pond in Richmond, and Carbuncle Pond in Coventry. The salmon, mostly between five and eight pounds each, with a few over 14 pounds, are from the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Nashua, NH National Fish Hatchery. A current fishing license and a Trout Conservation Stamp are required to keep or possess a salmon. The daily creel and possession limit for domestic Atlantic salmon is two fish as part of the daily trout limit, which currently stands at two per day. Tests by the US Fish and Wildlife Service indicate that domestic Atlantic salmon produced by national fish hatcheries in the Northeast do have low levels of PCB contamination, but the PCB levels do not exceed existing federal consumption safety levels. To protect public health, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, recommends that those eating these salmon restrict themselves to one meal per month. As the winter season progresses, anglers should check with individual communities about safe ice conditions on local ponds before ice fishing, as DEM does not monitor ice conditions in local communities. For ice conditions at Olney Pond at Lincoln Woods State Park, they can call DEM's 24-hour ice safety hotline at 222-2632. Ice must have a uniform thickness of at least six inches before it is considered safe by DEM. It generally takes at least five to seven consecutive days of temperatures in the low 20s before ice may become safe. Even then, the strength of the ice is determined by a number of factors such as the size and depth of a pond, presence of springs or currents, and local temperature fluctuations. DEM has an ice safety guide that can be found online at its website, www.dem.ri.gov, by clicking on "Parks and Recreation" under "Programs". -30- |
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