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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: September 9, 2005
Contact: Gail Mastrati 222-4700 ext. 2402
Stephanie Powell 222-4700 ext. 4418

ONLINE FISHING SURVEY FOR RECREATIONAL SALTWATER ANGLERS SET TO END ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Results will Help DEM Determine Future Fishing Site Upgrades

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management reminds anglers who fish in and around Narragansett Bay that they have one week left to participate in DEM's short but comprehensive online recreational fishing survey. The questionnaire can be found at the bottom of the front page on DEM's website, www.dem.ri.gov.

The online survey is part of an ongoing assessment of shore-based recreational fishing in Narragansett Bay, including Mount Hope Bay and the Sakonnet River. The results will help identify priority areas where the state or municipalities could make capital improvements to enhance public recreational fishing opportunities.

The survey and assessment are part of a broad effort, led by Governor Carcieri, to enhance public access and recreational opportunities in and around Narragansett Bay.

The focus of the survey is on saltwater recreational fishing conducted from the shoreline, such as from docks, jetties, bridges, and beaches. Freshwater fishing and recreational fishing by boat, while not included in this study, may be the subject of future queries by DEM.

The survey will be used by Gordon R. Archibald, Inc. of Pawtucket, a consulting firm hired by DEM, as part of its evaluation process of fishing sites throughout the Bay area. Fishing sites to be evaluated include locations in Pawtucket, Providence, East Providence, Warren/Barrington, Bristol, Little Compton, Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Jamestown, North Kingstown, Warwick, and Narragansett.

The evaluations will include information about expected catches at each area, how the locations relate to the transportation and population network (i.e. ease of accessibility to the most people), the popularity of each area, compatibility with surrounding land uses, and other relevant data. The evaluations will rank each site both on how well it currently maximizes its potential, and on how the overall recreational fishing experience might be improved at those sites.

The survey will remain online through next Friday, September 16, with results compiled and analyzed this month. Site visits will take place through early October, with a final report due by the end of the year. The report will be used as a starting point for DEM, working with local affected communities, to develop a plan to prioritize sites for potential future improvement.

For additional information about the survey, or the assessment process, contact James McGinn, P.E. at 222-4700 ext. 4313, or via e-mail at james.mcginn@dem.ri.gov.

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For General Information 222-6800 • After Hours Emergencies 222-3070 • Disclaimer
rev. 9/21/05