Please be reminded that the public comment period for the proposed rules identified below ends at 4:00pm on Friday, November 15, 2024.
Thank you
NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING
Please be advised that the Division of Marine Fisheries has publicly noticed the following regulation(s) to consider proposed amendments:
- Part 3 – Finfish:
- Noticed rule: Industry proposal to amend section 3.10.2(B) regarding the commercial tautog fishery to amend the possession limit for each of the sub-periods from 10 fish per day to 50 fish per week.
o Note: A similar industry proposal is with proposed amendments to Part 23 Aggregate Programs for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass to add tautog to the current summer/fall program. These proposals are mutually exclusive and cannot be adopted together.
· Noticed rule: Public proposal to eliminate nighttime harvest prohibition for blue crab and statutory reference and modify possession limit.
· Additional proposals:
o Division proposal to eliminate 5.6(D)(1) so all gear types are bound to the twenty-five (25) crab possession limit for blue crab.
- Part 23 – Summer/Fall Aggregate Program:
- Noticed rule: Industry proposal to add tautog to the summer/fall aggregate program with the following stipulations:
o The possession limit for tautog would be five times the daily limit (as opposed to seven times the daily limit for black sea bass and summer flounder;
o The 85% closure trigger (i.e., revert back to daily limit) that applies to black sea bass and summer flounder would not apply to tautog.
o Note: A similar industry proposal is with proposed amendments to Part 3-Finfish to amend the possession limit for each of the sub-periods from 10 fish per day to 50 fish per week. These proposals are mutually exclusive and cannot be adopted together.
- Noticed rule: Division proposal to add non-compliance provisions where non-compliance with the provisions of these regulations or the permit agreement may result in the vessel not being eligible for participation for the remainder of the calendar year
Please note that horseshoe crab management and menhaden regulations discussed at the last workshop will be revisited in the next regulatory cycle, with a workshop planned later in 2024 or early 2025.
Please click on the titles of the rules above to link directly to the proposed rules and summary document. Interested parties are invited to submit comments concerning the proposed rules through November 15, 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 is scheduled for Wednesday, November 6, 2024, 5:00pm.
In-person:
URI Bay Campus, Corless Auditorium
215 South Ferry Road, Narragansett
Virtual (Zoom): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947985677?pwd=8KyYDmZWKDVHxMatBunV7RzlnisaV9.1 [us02web.zoom.us]
Meeting ID: 899 4798 5677
Passcode: 947363
Dial in #: 1-929-205-6099 (listen only)
Division staff are available to answer any questions.
For all public meetings please visit the Division’s calendar page here
Thank you.
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