Commercial Licensing, Logbooks & Reporting
Electronic Reporting
All commercial fishermen with a multipurpose (MPURP) license or a commercial fishing license (CFL) or principle effort license (PEL) with finfish, crustacean, or whelk endorsements must report catch and effort to RIDMF. The method reports are submitted (VTR, state paper logbook, or electronic) must be declared at the time of license issuance.
Which reporting method should you choose?
All Party and Charter licensed fishermen must report all party and charter trips electronically to RIDMF through either eTRIPS Desktop or eTRIPS Mobile.
- Sign Up for Online Harvester Catch and Effort Reporting (eTRIPS and eTRIPS Mobile)
- SAFIS log-in for commercial dealers (eDR) and fishermen (eTRIPS)
- SAFIS eTRIPS Desktop Reporting Help
- eTRIPS Mobile2 is now available for use. The application is available for use by both federally permitted fishermen and state only fishermen. It is available on iOS, Android, and Windows 10 devices (tablets, phones, and computers). Check out the app store for download.
- eTRIPS Mobile Support and Training Materials
All RI Seafood Dealers are required to report their purchases to SAFIS eDR twice a weeek. All reports are due within 5 days of the sale.
- New Dealer Welcome
- SAFIS eDR Reporting Help
- SAFIS log-in for commercial dealers (eDR) and fishermen (eTRIPS)
Commercial Fishing License Information
- Online License Renewals
- Commercial Fishing License Information Page
- Commercial Fishing Licensing Regulations
- Frequently Asked Questions about RI Online Trip Reporting
New Licenses for Direct Sales of Certain Seafood Products
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Division has filed an emergency regulation that establishes a new Direct Sale Dealer License. The new dealer license is available to RI residents holding a valid commercial fishing license or resident landing permit that allows for the harvest and landing of finfish and/or crustaceans in RI.
The license authorizes the direct sale of certain species of finfish directly to consumers and licensed seafood retailers from the vessel on which they were harvested. The license also authorizes the sale, and transport for sale, of live lobsters and crabs directly to consumers and licensed seafood retailers from the vessel on which they were harvested.
Dockside sales of lobsters/crabs directly to consumers, conducted pursuant to an existing dockside sales endorsement, may continue as permitted by the endorsement, and are not affected by this new dealer license. Holders of an existing dockside sales endorsement who wish to sell live lobsters/crabs directly to licensed seafood retailers, and/or wish to engage in the delivery and sale of live lobsters/crabs, and/or wish to sell finfish dockside, must obtain the new Direct Sale Dealer License.
The new Direct Sale Dealer License includes a number of provisions governing harvest, handling, reporting, and direct-sale activities undertaken pursuant to the license, all of which must be strictly adhered to. Prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read thoroughly the Protocols and Guidance for Direct Sales of Marine Species in Rhode Island to determine if they can meet all requirements associated with the new license.
For questions pertaining to the new license, contact Robert Ballou at Robert.Ballou@dem.ri.gov
- Application to apply for the license
- Emergency Regulations – Direct Sale Dealer License (250-RICR-90-00-15
- Safe Practices for Direct Sales of RI Seafood
- Protocols and Guidance for Direct Sales of Marine Species in Rhode Island
Information for Commercial Fishermen
- Shellfish Harvester Education
- RI Commercial Harvester Catch/Effort Logbook
- RI Commercial Dockside Sales Logbook
- RI Licensed Seafood Buyers
- Lobster Trap Transferability Presentation
- Notice Concerning Atlantic Herring Fishing in RI State Waters
- Herring Identification Key
- River Herring Bycatch Avoidance Charts
- Commercial Winter Flounder Transit from Federal Waters