NOTICE
Commercial possession limits and seasons for marine species regulated under quota beginning January 1, 2024
- Black sea bass: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession will be five hundred (500) pounds per vessel per week, until further notice.
- Scup – general category: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be fifty thousand (50,000) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
- Scup – floating fish traps: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be fifty thousand (50,000) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
- Striped bass – general category: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial fishery remains closed until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
- Striped bass – floating fish traps: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial fishery remains closed, until reopening April 1, 2024 @ Unlimited possession limit (public hearing planned for February 2024).
- Summer flounder – vessels without a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
- Summer flounder – vessels with a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
- Winter I Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the Winter I Aggregate program remains closed. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, January 7, 2024, the possession limit will be four thousand (4,000) pounds per vessel per bi-week (permitted vessels only) until further notice.
- Summer/Fall Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the program remains closed. The program will re-open on May 1, 2024 @ a weekly possession limit equal to seven times (7X) the daily possession limit (both species, permitted vessels only).
- Bluefish: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be one thousand (1,000) pounds per vessel per bi-week, until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
- Menhaden – Menhaden Management Area: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the fishery remains closed until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
- Menhaden – State Waters outside the Menhaden Management Area: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit remains @ 120,000 pounds per vessel per day until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
- Tautog: Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the fishery remains closed, until reopening 12:00AM on April 1, 2024, @ 10 fish per person or per vessel per day (public hearing planned for February 2024).
Possession limits are subject to modification throughout the year; it is the responsibility of the licensed fisherman to comply with possession limits and all such modifications. Current commercial possession limits can be found by calling (401) 423-1920, or visiting the Marine Fisheries webpage at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/mfsizes.php.
Thank you
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12-29-2023.pdf