PUBLIC NOTICE – PROPOSED REGULATION AMENDMENTS
Please be advised that the Division of Marine Fisheries has publicly noticed the following regulation(s) to consider proposed amendments:
- Part 1 – Definitions and General Provisions (Division proposal):
- Section 1.13.3 “Landmark locations (Shellfish/Marine Life Management Areas and other landmarks identified throughout regulations Chapter 90 “Marine Fisheries”)”:
o Add coordinates for the following landmarks that are proposed to be added to Part 6 “General Equipment Provisions” in order to better describe areas of netting and fixed gear prohibitions:
- Ninigret Pond Narrows Northwest Corner Coordinate
- Ninigret Pond Narrows Southeast Corner Coordinate
- Ninigret Pond Narrows Southwest Corner Coordinate
- Foster Cove Channel Southwest Corner Coordinate
- Foster Cove Channel Southeast Corner Coordinate
- Foster Cove Channel Northwest Corner Coordinate
- Foster Cove Channel Northeast Corner Coordinate
- Grassy Point
- Narrows Northwest Corner Coordinate (Pt. Judith Pond)
- Sprague Bridge (Narrow River)
o Remove coordinate “Seaward entrance of the Pettaquamscutt River” as redundant with landmark “Mouth of the Pettaquamscutt River”.
o Amend coordinate for the landmark “Northwestern End of Sandy Point Island” to move landmark point to the northern extremity of the island.
o Section 2.7.3(E)(2): Delete section regarding issuance of Dockside Sales Endorsement
o Section 2.7.3(F)(15): Remove fee for the Dockside Sales Endorsement
o Section 2.7.4(C)(3)(c): Remove the Dockside Sales Endorsement as an open license available to Multipurpose License holders, Resident Standard License holders with Limited or Unlimited Crustacean Endorsement
o Sections 2.7.8(D): Delete Dockside Sales Endorsement reporting requirements
o IMPORTANT! This proposal would not eliminate the activities currently authorized by the Dockside Sales Endorsement. The activities authorized by the Dockside Sales Endorsement are currently also authorized by the Direct Sales Dealer License. Under this proposal, persons wishing to maintain the activities authorized by the Dockside Sales Endorsement would be required to obtain a Direct Sales Dealer License beginning in 2025. All Dockside Sales Endorsements issued would remain valid through 2024.
- Part 6 – General Equipment Provisions (Division proposal):
- Section 6.5(A)(3)(b): Amend area of a commercial netting prohibition in Upper Pt. Judith Pond.
- Section 6.5(5)(c): Amend area of a commercial netting prohibition in the Narrow River.
- Section 6.5(A)(7): Clarify the area of the Foster Cove Channel and the Narrows of Ninigret Pond by using defined landmarks.
- Part 7 – Dealers (Industry and Division proposal):
- Section 7.10(A)(1): Add live shrimp and processed (shucked) scallops (including both bay and sea scallops) to species authorized for sale under the license.
- Section 7.10(A)(2): Add live shrimp to species authorized for transport under the license.
- Section 7.10(E)(3): Amend section to include scallops as prohibited for transportation.
- Section 7.10(E)(4): Add to rule that specifies that the direct sale of oysters, clams, mussels, and roe-on scallops is prohibited.
- Section 7.10(F)(7): Provide storage and handling requirements for scallops.
- Section 7.10(F)(8): Specify that rule regarding “processing” does not apply to scallops.
Please click on the titles of the rules above to link directly to the proposed rules (Sec. of State website). Interested parties are invited to submit written or oral comments concerning the proposed rules through Thursday, September 19, 2024. Send comments by mail or email to:
Peter Duhamel
DEM Division of Marine Fisheries
3 Fort Wetherill Road
Jamestown, RI 02835
A PUBLIC HEARING will be held Monday, September 10, 2024, 5:00pm.
In-person:
URI Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium
215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett
Virtual (Zoom): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88067488772?pwd=g7KleaapaaWx8OujFy7zGYrcdfGaQ5.1 [us02web.zoom.us]
Meeting ID: 880 6748 8772
Passcode: 474877
Dial in #: 1-929-205-6099 (listen only)
A RI Marine Fisheries Council meeting is scheduled for October 7, 2024.
For all public meetings, please visit the Division’s calendar page here.
Thank you.
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HearingNotice.pdf