250-RICR-90-00-1
250-RICR-90-00-1. Definitions and General Provisions (version Amendment, 03/10/2021 to 01/04/2022)
1.1 Purpose
The purpose of these Rules
and Regulations is to efficiently manage the marine resources of
Rhode Island.
1.2 Authority
These Rules and Regulations
are promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Title 20, R.I. Gen. Laws
Chapters 42-17.1, 42-17.6, and 42-17.7, and in accordance with R.I.
Gen. Laws Chapter 42-35, Administrative Procedures Act.
1.3 Application
The terms and provisions of
these Rules and Regulations shall be liberally construed to permit
the Department to effectuate the purposes of State law, goals, and
policies.
1.4 Severability
If any provision of these
Rules and Regulations, or the application thereof to any person or
circumstances, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction,
the validity of the remainder of the Rules and Regulations shall not
be affected thereby.
1.5 Superseded Rules and
Regulations
On the effective date of
these Rules and Regulations, all previous Rules and Regulations, and
any policies regarding the administration and enforcement of these
Regulations shall be superseded. However, any enforcement action
taken by, or application submitted to, the Department prior to the
effective date of these Rules and Regulations shall be governed by
the Rules and Regulations in effect at the time the enforcement
action was taken, or application filed.
1.6 General Provisions
A. Use of explosives: The use
of explosives as a fishing device in the internal and territorial
waters of the State of Rhode Island is prohibited.
B. Transfer at sea: No one may
transfer or attempt to transfer at sea, from one (1) vessel to
another, any finfish that are subject to these Regulations.
C. Obstruction of migratory
fish passage: No person shall obstruct the free passage of anadromous
or catadromous fish in any marine waters, river, or stream, of the
State of Rhode Island.
1.7 Quota Management
A. Modification of sub-period
allocations based on under/over-harvest:
1. Under-harvest: Any
un-harvested quota from a sub‑period allocation will be equally
distributed to the allocations of the remaining sub‑periods in
the same calendar year.
2. Over-harvest:
a. Any over-harvest of a
sub-period allocation will be deducted from the allocations of the
remaining sub-periods in the same calendar year.
b. Any over-harvest from the
previous year will be deducted from the entire State allocation of
the current year before redistributing according to the
species-specific management plan.
B. Modifications of
allocations, seasons and possession limits: For quota managed
species, in order to maintain compliance with a Federal or regional
fisheries management plan (FMP), the DEM has the authority to
distribute allocations, including the distribution of allocations
among the various gear types, modify possession limits, and change
seasons, unless specifically prohibited by the Secretary of Commerce
or the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC), in the
following manner:
1. Allocation changes: If DEM
projects that an allocation assigned for a sub-period, or assigned to
be available for taking by a particular gear type during that
sub-period, may be exhausted prior to the end of the sub-period, or
may not be met for a sub-period, DEM may modify the allocation.
2. Possession limit changes:
If DEM projects that the allocation for a given species may be
exhausted prior to the end of a sub-period or may not be met for a
sub-period, DEM may modify the possession limit.
3. If the quota for a
sub-period allocation is fully harvested prior to the end of the
sub-period, the DEM will close the fishery for the remainder of the
sub-period.
4. Notification of
modifications to possession limits and/or seasons for marine species
regulated under quota: Such notification shall take place in
accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-12.1, and be provided to
the public via the Marine Fisheries listserve, dedicated phone line
(401-423-1920) and webpage. It is the responsibility of the licensed
fishermen to know and abide by all possession limits and seasons.
1.8 Possession Limit and Vessel
Operating Compliance
A. General
1. In any instance when there
is a violation of the size, possession, or daily limit on board a
vessel carrying more than one (1) person when the catch is
commingled, the violation shall be deemed to have been committed by
the owner of the vessel, or the operator of the vessel, if the owner
is not on board.
2. A person who takes marine
product/species utilizing a vessel and also without the assistance of
a vessel is only allowed one (1) possession limit per calendar day
unless an alternative period of time is specifically provided in the
governing regulation.
B. Vessels operating
recreationally
1. Any vessel, including a
commercially declared and/or licensed party/charter vessel, may
operate recreationally in accordance with all applicable recreational
Regulations.
2. With regard to all species
that are not subject to per-vessel restrictions, compliance with
possession limits while operating recreationally shall be determined
by dividing the total number of fish aboard the vessel by the total
number of licensed or exempt recreational fishers or spearfishers
aboard the vessel.
3. If a vessel makes more than
one (1) recreational trip per day, the catches attributable to the
same licensed or exempt fishers or spearfishers who go out again are
cumulative.
C. Party/charter vessels
operating recreationally
1. Only vessels licensed in
accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 20227.1 may operate
as a party or charter vessel.
2. A vessel is operating as a
party or charter vessel whenever the vessel is carrying one (1) or
more passengers for hire for the purpose of engaging in recreational
fishing or spearfishing.
3. Unless otherwise specified
in this Subchapter ,
vessels operating as a party or charter vessel must adhere to
recreational Regulations.
4. With regard to all species
that are not subject to per-vessel restrictions, compliance for
party/charter vessels operating recreationally shall be determined by
dividing the total number of fish aboard the vessel by the total
number of anglers or spearfishers aboard the vessel.
5. If a party/charter vessel
makes more than one (1) recreational trip per day, any marine species
possessed by the captain and mate are cumulative.
D. Vessels operating
commercially
1. Only vessels that are
commercially declared may operate as a commercial vessel.
2. A vessel is operating
commercially whenever the vessel is engaged in the process of taking,
harvesting, holding, transporting, loading or offloading marine
species for sale or intended sale.
3. Vessels making more than
one (1) commercial trip per calendar day must have onboard a Rhode
Island catch and effort logbook or a Federal VTR, and the logbooks or
VTRs must be completed prior to the initiation of the second (2 nd )
commercial or recreational fishing trip on the same day. An exemption
from carrying the Rhode Island catch and effort logbook shall be
granted for vessels which are operated by licensed captains who are
enrolled and currently active participants in the eTrips electronic
reporting program. The eTrips report of the first (1 st )
commercial or recreational fishing trip must be entered prior to the
initiation of the second (2 nd ) commercial or recreational
fishing trip on the same day.
4. Any vessel operating
commercially, including any vessel fishing commercially using rod and
reel, may utilize, without restriction, any number of unlicensed crew
members to assist with any commercial operations.
5. For all commercial
fisheries except shellfish, any number of unlicensed crews may assist
in direct commercial harvest operations regardless of the manner,
method or contrivance employed, as long as said crew is/are located
onboard a commercially declared vessel that is operated by an
individual who possesses a valid and proper commercial fishing
license and is/are under the direct supervision and responsibility of
said properly licensed commercial fisher. With respect to commercial
shellfish operations, unlicensed crews may only assist with culling
activities and other indirect harvest operations, while said crew
is/are located onboard a commercially declared vessel that is
operated by an individual who possesses a valid and proper commercial
fishing license and is/are under the direct supervision and
responsibility of said properly licensed commercial fisher.
6. Vessels making more than
one (1) commercial trip per calendar day are bound by all applicable
per-vessel, per-day possession limits.
7. A vessel operating
commercially may not possess or land more than the per-vessel limit;
however, a portion of the catch may be retained for (non-commercial)
personal use, provided that the amount of fish retained for personal
use must be recorded in the licensee’s commercial logbook.
E. Vessels Operating in More
Than One Mode
1. On a per trip basis, a
vessel may only operate recreationally, or as a party or charter
vessel, or commercially. No vessel may operate in more than one (1)
mode during the same trip.
2. A vessel that is
commercially declared may operate in commercially during one (1)
portion of a calendar day and operate recreationally or as a party or
charter vessel during a separate trip on the same day, subject to
separate and nonoverlapping commercial and recreational or
party/charter Regulations.
3. Upon boarding or
inspection, the captain or operator of a commercially declared vessel
must disclose whether the vessel is operating commercially, or as a
party or charter vessel, or recreationally.
F. Weekly and bi-weekly
possession limits: In any instance where the first (1 st )
week in a given sub-period begins on any day other than Sunday, or
the last week in a given sub-period ends on any day other than
Saturday, resulting in a shortened week or bi-week, the following
shall apply:
1. A person may land a full
weekly or bi-weekly possession limit; and
2. The cumulative landings
must occur during the shortened week or bi-week.
1.9 Transiting
A. Finfish
1. During the closure of a
Rhode Island State-allocated fishery quota, a Federally-permitted
vessel fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone may transit Rhode
Island State waters for the purpose of landing that species in
another State, provided the vessel is in compliance with their
Federal permit, and the vessel nets are stowed.
2. A Federally-permitted
vessel fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone may transit Rhode
Island State waters for the purpose of landing a species in Rhode
Island, provided that the species in possession do not have a
State-allocated quota that is currently closed, provided the vessel
is in compliance with their Federal permit, provided the vessel nets
are stowed, and provided that the owner or operator possesses a valid
Rhode Island Landing License.
3. A vessel in possession of a
regulated species harvested in an open area of State waters may
transit a closed portion of State waters in possession of that
species for the purpose of landing, provided the operator of the
vessel has a valid fishing license, and if fishing with nets, the
nets are stowed.
B. Shellfish
1. During the closure of a
Rhode Island State-allocated fishery quota, a federally permitted
vessel fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone may traverse Rhode
Island State waters for the purpose of landing that species in
another State, provided the vessel is in compliance with their
Federal permit, and all gear capable of harvesting shellfish is
stowed and not engaged in the act of taking or harvesting while
transiting State waters.
2. A Federally-permitted
vessel fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone may traverse Rhode
Island State waters for the purpose of landing a species in Rhode
Island, provided that the species in possession do not have a
State-allocated quota that is currently closed, provided the vessel
is in compliance with their Federal permit, and provided that all
gear capable of harvesting shellfish is stowed and not engaged in the
act of taking or harvesting while transiting State waters, and
provided that the owner or operator possesses a valid Rhode Island
Landing License pursuant to DEM’s Commercial and Recreational
Saltwater Fishing Licensing Regulations, Part
2 of this Subchapter.
C. Stowage of nets: A net that
conforms to one (1) of the following specifications and that can be
shown not to have been in recent use is considered to be "not
available for immediate use."
1. A net stowed below deck,
provided:
a. It is located below the
main working deck from which the net is deployed and retrieved;
b. The towing wires, including
the leg wires are detached from the net; and
c. It is fan folded (flaked)
and bound around its circumference.
2. A net stowed and lashed
down on deck, provided:
a. It is fan folded (flaked)
and bound around its circumference;
b. It is securely fastened to
the deck or rail of the vessel; and
c. The towing wires, including
the leg wires, are detached from the net.
3. A net that is on a reel and
is covered and secured, provided:
a. The entire surface of the
net is covered with canvas or other similar material that is securely
bound;
b. The towing wires, including
the leg wires, are detached from the net; and
c. The cod end is removed from
the net and stored below deck.
4. National Marine Fisheries
Service authorized: Nets that are secured in a manner authorized in
writing by the National Marine Fisheries Service Regional Director,
for the Mid-Atlantic regulated mesh area defined as "that area
bounded by the intersection of the outer boundary of the Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ)."
1.10 Control Dates
A. The Department may
establish control dates, which shall serve as cut-off dates for
potential use in establishing eligibility criteria for future access
to a fishery.
B. Eligibility criteria may
include, but are not limited to, historic participation and/or gear
levels as documented by transaction records and official State or
Federal logbooks.
C. The establishment of a
control date is intended to promote awareness of the potential
establishment of eligibility criteria for future access to a fishery
and to discourage speculative shifting of effort into that fishery.
To this end, the Department may give various weighted considerations
to those active in the fishery before and after the control date.
D. Establishing a control date
does not commit the Department to any management regime or criteria
for limiting future access to a fishery; however, once enacted,
control dates may only be used to limit future access to a fishery in
accordance with a fisheries management plan.
E. Control dates may only be
established prospectively, unless a retroactive control date is
expressly required by Federal law, Regulation or court decision.
1.11 Penalties for Non-Compliance
A. If the Director determines
that there has been non-compliance with the provisions of these
Regulations or a permit agreement, the owner and/or operator of the
vessel and/or license holder shall be advised of such determination
and the specific grounds therefore in writing. The determination
shall specifically include notice that an opportunity for a hearing
is available before the Administrative Adjudication Division pursuant
to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-17.7 relative to either or both the
finding that sufficient evidence exists of non-compliance with the
provisions of these Regulations or the permit agreement as well as
the termination of the permit and or the imposition of a penalty
pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-16.
B. Judicially imposed penalty
for violations:
1. Unless otherwise
specifically provided, the violation of any Law or Rule or Regulation
relating to wild animals, wild birds, lobsters and fish, marine,
freshwater and anadromous fisheries and shellfisheries shall be a
misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred
dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for up to ninety (90) days, or both
(R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-16).
2. Additionally, a person may
be subject to the imposition of an administrative penalty pursuant to
DEM’s Rules and Regulations Governing the Suspension/Revocation
of Commercial and Recreational Fishing Licenses, Part
80-00-6 of this Title , licenses issued pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws
Title 20.
1.12 Appeals
A. Denial of a license or
permit: Persons denied a license or permit may request an appeal
within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the denial as provided by
R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-17.7 and pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations for the Administrative Adjudication Division, Part
10-00-1 of this Title .
B. Enforcement Action: Any
person affected by a decision of the Director for an enforcement
action pursuant to these Regulations may file and appeal within
twenty (20) days after the date of receipt of the enforcement action
in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-17.7 and Rules and
Regulations for the Administrative Adjudication Division, Part
10-00-1 of this Title .
1.13 Definition of Terms
"Adequately iced"
means the amount and application of ice sufficient to ensure that
immediate cooling begins and continues for all shellfish. Ice should
be produced from a potable water source and shall be maintained to
prevent contamination of shellfish.
"Affidavit" means a
sworn statement of facts made under oath as to the truthfulness
therein, and made before an authorized person such as a Notary
Public. For the purposes of these Rules and Regulations, affidavits
must be on forms provided by the Department.
"Agent" means a
representative of a licensed dealer with a place of business in the
State of Rhode Island wherein transaction records of said dealer are
maintained and available for inspection during normal business hours.
"Air-assisted harvest"
means the use of an air compressor or any device capable of
pressurizing air/gas or compressed gas in a tank, to power any device
designed to disturb the substrate, create a vacuum effect or sediment
displacement effect in collection of aquatic species.
"Anadromous fish"
means any species of fish which ascends rivers or streams from the
sea for breeding purposes (e.g. Alewife, Salmon, Shad).
"Angling" means to
fish recreationally using hook and line (R.I. Gen. Laws §
20-2.2-3).
"Approved waters"
or "Approved growing areas" means marine waters of the
State that have been classified by the DEM Division of Water
Resources as Approved Areas, fit for the taking of shellfish for
human consumption on a regular basis, in accordance with the criteria
established by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP)
Manual of Operations. These classifications may be subject to change
as water quality conditions dictate.
"Bait gill net"
means a gill net not exceeding one hundred feet (100’) nor
exceeding a mesh size greater than three and three quarters inches
(3-3/4") (stretched).
"Bay scallop dredging"
means the towing of a bay scallop dredge during the established bay
scallop dredging season.
"Bay scallop seed"
means a bay scallop with a bright, thin, slightly curved shell with
no foreign adherent, the shell having no well-defined raised annual
growth line, and the bay scallop being less than one (1) year old.
“Beach seine”
means a seine that is deployed from the shore.
"Bill of lading"
means an invoice which identifies a shipment of fish, shellfish or
crustaceans as to seller, buyer, source, type, quantity and sale
price.
“Bi-week” means a
two (2) week period beginning 12:00 A.M. on a Sunday and ending on
the second (2 nd ) Saturday at 11:59 P.M.
"Bullrake" means
any curved metal instrument or basket with four (4) or more metal
tines (teeth) which is customarily used to harvest quahaugs.
"Bycatch" means
marine species which have been harvested, but which are not sold or
kept for personal use and includes species that are discarded while a
fisher is directing his/her effort toward the harvest of another
marine species.
"Bushel" means a
standard U.S. bushel, 2150.4 cubic inches capacity (R.I. Gen. Laws §
20-1-3).
"Catadromous fish"
means any species which lives in fresh water, but must go to sea for
breeding purposes (e.g., American eel, Anguilla rostrata ).
"Carapace" means
the un-segmented body shell of the American lobster.
"Carapace length"
means the length of a lobster measured from the rear of the eye
socket along a line parallel to the center of the body shell to the
rear of the body shell.
"Catastrophic trap tag
loss" means the loss of original lobster trap tags in excess of
the ten percent (10%) over-allotment trap tags issued for routine
loss, in which instance the original trap tags become invalid and
must be replaced in their entirety by catastrophic trap tags.
“Circle hook”
means a non-offset hook where the point is pointed perpendicularly
back towards the shank.
"Coastal salt pond"
means a pond abutting a barrier beach; some are periodically fresh;
others are brackish or salt.
"Coastal salt pond
channel" means a natural or man‑made, temporary or
permanent waterway, allowing for the passage of water to and from any
coastal salt pond. Distances (in feet) describing the following salt
pond channel areas are measured from the seaward extremity of any
channel to a point measured in a northerly direction, or as
specifically described herein.
Coastal Salt Pond Channel
Distances
Pond/Channel
Town
Distance
Quicksand
L.
Compton
750’
Tunipus
L.
Compton
200’
Briggs
Marsh
L.
Compton
600’
Ship
Pond Cove
L.
Compton
200’
Long
L.
Compton
400’
Round
L.
Compton
250’
Nonquit
(Puncatest)
Tiverton
1,800’
Nannaquaket
(measured from the mouth of the Quaket River to the eastern side
of the Nannaquaket Bridge abutment)
Tiverton
400’
Narrow/Pettaquamscutt
Narragansett/N.
Kingstown
3,850’
Point
Judith (measured in a northerly direction from the mouth of the
Point Judith Breachway to a line drawn from Strawberry Hill Point
on the east to High Point on the west)
Narragansett/S.
Kingstown
6,000’
Potter
(measured from the western entrance of Potter Pond channel to the
eastern tip of Gooseberry Island in Point Judith Pond)
South
Kingstown
2,800’
Card
South
Kingstown
200’
Trustom
South
Kingstown
500’
Green
Hill: Potato Point (measured from the easternmost point of
Stevens Island in Ninigret/Charlestown Pond to the westernmost
point of Potato Point in Green Hill Pond)
S.
Kingstown/Charlestown
1,800’
Ninigret/Charlestown
Charlestown
3,200’
Quonochontaug
Charlestown/Westerly
2,800’
Winnapaug/Brightman
Westerly
2,800’
Little
Maschaug
Westerly
250’
Maschaug
Westerly
300’
Great
Salt
Block
Island
1,800’
Trim
Block
Island
850’
Harbor
Block
Island
1,000’
"Codend" means the
terminal section of a trawl net in which captured fish may
accumulate, and is further defined as the last forty-five (45) rows
of meshes in the terminal section of the net.
"Colregs demarcation
line" means the lines of demarcation, as defined on National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chart #13221, delineating
those waters upon which mariners must comply with the international
regulations for preventing collisions at sea, and those waters upon
which mariners must comply with the inland navigation rules. For
Point Judith the "Port" is to be all waters inside of and
north of the southern end of the riprap wall at Salty Brine State
Beach so‑called. The demarcation lines for Block Island are as
follows: the area enclosed by the breakwaters at Old Harbor, and the
entirety of Great Salt Pond so called.
"Commercial
fisherman/fishermen" means a person(s) who catches, harvests, or
takes finfish, crustaceans, or shellfish from the marine waters for
sale (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2.1-3).
"Commercial fishing"
means to take, harvest, hold, transport, or off-load marine species
for sale or intended sale (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Commercial fishing
vessel" means any vessel, boat or craft employed in the
harvesting of marine species commercially, which shall first be
declared with the Department.
"Conditionally approved
waters" means shellfish grounds underlying waters examined and
found fit for the taking of shellfish for human consumption on an
intermittent basis, declared by the Director as conditionally
approved waters pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 20-8.1-3 and
20-8.1-4. Such classification may be subject to change as water
quality conditions dictate (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-8.1-1).
"Constantly tended"
means that a person setting a net shall remain within one hundred
feet (100’) of the net at all times.
"Container" means
any bag, sack, tote, or other receptacle that contains shellfish to
be held or transported.
"Control date"
means a cutoff date for potential use in establishing eligibility
criteria for future access to a fishery.
"Crab pot" means
any pot designed or adapted principally for the catching or taking of
crabs.
"Crew" means a
person, aged sixteen (16) or older, employed for purposes of
assisting in the operation of a commercial fishing vessel and its
gear by another person licensed to fish commercially pursuant to the
Commercial and Recreational Saltwater Fishing Licensing Regulations,
Part
2 of this Subchapter .
"Cultured crops"
means aquatic or marine animals or plants that are in the location,
water column or artificial conditions specified in a valid
aquaculture permit; or that have been taken by the holder of such
permit from the location, water column or artificial conditions
specified in such permit; or that have been produced by aquaculture
methods outside the State and have not been commingled with wild
stocks that are in or have been removed from the waters of the State.
Appropriate bills of sale, bills of lading and proper tags and all
other applicable State and Federal laws and Regulations shall be
prima facie evidence of the origin of cultured crops inside or
outside the State.
"Day" means a
calendar day, or the twenty-four (24) hour period of time beginning
at 12:00 A.M. and ending at 11:59 P.M.
"Dealer" means a
person licensed to barter or trade in marine species.
"Director" means
the Director of the Department of Environmental Management or his or
her duly appointed agents.
"Discards" means
marine species that are discarded overboard by fishers because their
possession is prohibited by regulations or for economic reasons.
"Disposition" means
the intended use or fate of landed marine species after leaving the
dealer premises (e.g., food, or bait).
"Dredge" means a
mechanical device that is towed behind a fishing vessel and whose
purpose is to collect shellfish from the sea floor.
"Drift gill net"
means a floating gill net that is floating unattached to the ocean
bottom and not anchored, secured, or weighted to the ocean bottom.
"Dual federal
permit/state license holder" means a person who holds both a
Federal Limited Access Lobster Permit and a State of Rhode Island
Commercial Fishing License endorsed for American lobster.
"Eel trap/pot"
means any pot or trap designed or adapted principally for the
catching or taking of American eels.
"Endorsement" means
a notation on a license that indicates the right to harvest a marine
species or group of similar species, the right to utilize a
particular type of gear or harvesting method, or the right to sell a
particular marine species or group of similar species directly to
consumers at dockside, in accordance with applicable harvest and/or
gear restrictions.
"Endorsement category"
means a marine species or group of similar species that may be
legally harvested by a fisher whose license allows the taking of
those species; or a gear type or harvesting method that may be
legally utilized by a fisher whose license is properly endorsed.
"Exclusive economic
zone" or "EEZ" means those waters three (3) to two
hundred (200) miles (five (5) to three hundred twenty-two (322)
kilometers) offshore which are under the direct jurisdiction of the
Federal government.
"Exit/entry ratio"
means the number of restricted license endorsements made available
for each endorsement surrendered to the Department, on an annual
basis.
"Family member"
means a spouse, mother, father, brother, sister, child or grandchild
of a licensed fisher. Spouse shall include a person who is currently
a party to a marriage that was legally recognized in the State or
Territory in which the marriage was solemnized.
"February 28" means
the twenty-eighth (28 th ) day in the month of February or
the next business day if February 28 falls on a Saturday or Sunday or
holiday for the purpose of application submittals and renewal
deadlines.
"Fishery" means one
(1) or more stocks of marine species which can be treated as a unit
for purposes of conservation and management and which are identified
on the basis of geographic, scientific, technical, recreational, and
economic characteristics; and any fishing for such stocks.
"Fishery performance"
means properly documented commercial lobster fishing activity; namely
pounds landed and traps fished in LCMA 2 during the applicable
qualifying period.
"Fishery sector"
means and comprises crustaceans, finfish, shellfish, as defined in
this section, each of which shall singularly be considered a fishery
sector (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2.1-3).
"Floating fish trap"
means a floating trap, weir, pounds net, or any equivalent
contrivance set on, in or anchored to the bottom or shore, used for
the purpose of catching fish (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-5-1).
"Fork length" means
the straight linear distance from the tip of the snout to the fork of
the tail.
"Fyke net" means a
conical shaped net supported by hoops, which also utilizes a leader
to direct fish to the net.
"Gear" means any
device or mechanism other than a vessel employed to catch marine
species.
"Gill net" means a
net used to catch fish by means of meshing or entanglement.
"Grace period"
means sixty (60) calendar days commencing on the day immediately
following the application deadline, as defined herein. The grace
period is applicable only to renewals of licenses from the
immediately preceding year.
"Grade" means the
landing condition of each marine species (e.g., whole, gutted).
"Harbor of refuge
breakwater" means the three (3) sections of breakwater off of
Point Judith in the town of Narragansett.
"Harvest" means the
act of removing a marine species with the intention of not returning
it to the water.
"Hinge width" means
the distance between the convex apex of the right shell and the
convex apex of the left shell.
"Incapacity" means
death of, or injury that renders an active license holder unable to
fish for a period in excess of fourteen (14) days either as a result
of the physical loss of function or impairment of a body part or
parts, or debilitating pain.
“Incidental catch”
means unintended harvest of non-targeted marine species, which may be
sold or kept for personal use, as established by rule.
"Initial LCMA 2 LTA"
means the initial (maximum) number of lobster traps authorized in
2007 to be fished by an individual permit or license holder in LCMA
2.
"Land" or "landing"
means to offload marine species harvested within or outside of Rhode
Island waters for sale or intended sale, or to secure a vessel with
marine species on board to a shoreside facility where the marine
species may be offloaded for sale or intended sale (R.I. Gen. Laws §
20-1-3).
"LCMA 2 lobster trap
allocation" or "LTA" means the maximum number of
lobster traps authorized to be fished by an individual permit or
license holder in LCMA 2.
"Licensed captain"
means a person who holds or held a valid commercial fishing license
issued by the Department.
"License year"
means January 1 of any given year through December 31 of the same
year.
"Lobster pot" means
any pot designed or adapted principally for the catching or taking of
lobsters or Jonah Crab.
"Lottery" means any
of a variety of procedures used to determine priority in the issuance
of new licenses or permits in cases where only a limited number of
new licenses are available; such procedures having the common
characteristics of being verifiably blind, random, fair and
equitable.
"LTA transfer"
means a change in ownership of a partial or entire Department or NOAA
Fisheries-issued LTA by a person.
"LTA transferor"
means the license or permit holder from whom an LTA transfer is made.
"LTA transferee"
means the person or fishing vessel to whom/which an LTA transfer is
made.
"Marine species"
means any animal species found in the marine waters of Rhode Island,
including but not limited to finfish, shellfish, crustaceans, and
squid.
"Marine waters of Rhode
Island" means all tidal and territorial waters of the State out
to three (3) nautical miles from the coastline (R.I. Gen. Laws §
20-2.2-3).
"Mechanical power"
means any source of energy or power other than exclusively human
power.
"Mechanical
refrigeration" means storage in a container that is approved by
the Rhode Island Department of Health and capable of cooling to, and
maintaining, an ambient temperature of forty-five degrees Fahrenheit
(45° F) or less.
"Medical hardship"
means a significant medical condition that prevents a license holder
from meeting licensing application requirements.
"Netting" means a
meshed fabric which exceeds eight feet (8’) in length or width
including, but not be limited to seines, weirs, fyke nets, otter
trawls, and gill nets.
"Non-resident"
means a person who does not present proof of Rhode Island residency.
"Non-resident landowner"
means a non-resident citizen of the United States and owner of real
estate in Rhode Island as evidenced by deed filed in the Recorder of
Deeds office in a Rhode Island town or city hall (R.I. Gen. Laws §
20-1-3).
"Obstructing the free
passage of fish" means the blocking of a stream, river, or pond
so as to impede the passage of anadromous and/or catadromous fish,
e.g., shad, alewife, and the American eel.
"Offload" means to
begin to remove, to remove, to pass over the rail, or otherwise take
away fish from any vessel.
"Open to the sea"
means a coastal salt pond will be considered open to the sea if any
flow of water connects coastal salt pond with the sea.
"Original lobster trap
tags" means those trap tags available for purchase to a Rhode
Island Commercial License holder or a Federal Limited Access Lobster
Permit holder based on their lobster trap allocation, including an
additional ten percent (10%) over-allotment to allow for routine trap
or tag losses.
"Overfishing" or
"Overfished" means a rate or level of fishing mortality
that jeopardizes the capacity of a fishery to produce the maximum
sustainable yield on a continuing basis.
"Party vessel” or
“Charter vessel" means any vessel that carries passengers
for hire to engage in fishing.
"Peck" means one
fourth (1/4) of a bushel (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Permanently disabled"
means a person who is one hundred percent (100%) permanently disabled
in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 20-2-31 and 20-2.2-3.
"Person" means an
individual, corporation, partnership, co-partnership, association,
private or Municipal Corporation, or other legal entity firm (R.I.
Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Place of business"
means a building or office located in the State of Rhode Island where
a licensed fish dealer maintains records of sales and purchases which
are available for inspection by the Department during normal business
hours.
"Polluted area"
means shellfish grounds underlying waters examined and found to be
unfit for the taking of shellfish for human consumption declared by
the Director as polluted areas pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §§
20-8.1-3 and 20-8.1-4. For the purposes of any criminal or civil
proceeding instituted under this chapter, a declaration by the
Director shall be prima facie evidence of a polluted area
(R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-8.1-1).
"Port" means any
town or city with a harbor and docking facilities where vessels can
land.
"Possession" means
the exercise of dominion or control over the resource commencing at
the time at which a decision is made not to return the resource to
the immediate vicinity from which it was taken. The decision must be
made at the first practical opportunity.
"Possession limit"
means the maximum quantity of marine species that may be possessed by
a vessel or person per specified period of time (i.e., day or week)
regardless of the means by which the marine species may have been
taken.
"Pot" or "Trap"
means any stationary bottom-fishing contrivance or device made of
wood, wire mesh, or plastic mesh, fished individually or linked by a
common line and generally baited; used to catch finfish, crabs,
conchs, or lobsters that enter through a conical or rectangular
opening where escape is difficult.
"Power hauling"
means the raising or moving of fishing implements including dredges,
rakes, tongs, or other apparatus used to harvest marine organisms
from the waters of the State or the underlying sediment.
"Quota" means the
maximum weight or number of marine species which can legally be
landed within a stated time period.
“Recreationally
fishing” means the process of taking marine species by any
means (e.g., hook and line, net, spear, pot, or powerhead) for
personal use and not for sale.
"Resident" means a
person who has had his or her actual place of residence and has lived
in the State of Rhode Island for a continuous period of not less than
six (6) months. Proof of residence may include a Rhode Island
driver's license, voter registration card or a notarized statement
from a City or Town Clerk (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Routine trap tag loss"
means the loss of lobster trap tags that does not exceed the ten
percent (10%) over-allotment trap tags issued for routine loss.
"Season" means a
period of time established by Regulation during which management
Rules specific to that period are in effect.
"Seine" means any
net used to catch fish by encirclement or herding that hangs
vertically in the water with its bottom edge held down by weights and
its top edge buoyed by floats.
"Shading" means to
shelter by intercepting the direct rays of the sun to protect the
shellfish from heat. Shading may be accomplished by any means that
effectively protects the harvested shellfish from direct sunlight and
prevents excessive heat build-up in the shaded area.
"Shellfish" means
any molluscan species growing in Rhode Island tidal waters,
including, but not limited to, bay quahaug, ocean quahaug, blue
mussel, oyster, soft shell clam, bay scallop, and surf clam.
"Shellfish grounds"
means all land underlying waters within the rise and fall of the tide
and the marine limits of the jurisdiction of the State (R.I. Gen.
Laws § 20-8.1-1).
"Shellfish harvest
tagging area" means the marine waters of the State where
shellfish are harvested (refer to
http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/shelltag.php ).
"Shoreward" means
that point or end of any net which is closest/nearest the coast or
the closest coastal outcropping.
"Sink gill net"
means any bottom tending gill net that is designed to be or is fished
on or near the bottom of the water column by means of a weight line
or enough weights and/or anchors that the bottom of the gill net
sinks to, on, or near the ocean bottom.
"Shoredigging"
means the taking of shellfish from shallow areas or the intertidal
zone of the waters of the State without the use of a boat or SCUBA
gear and when body contact is made with the bottom substrate.
"Take" or "taking"
means the process and each of the activities in that process
undertaken to remove the resource from its natural habitat until the
time at which possession begins.
"Temperature control"
means the use of ice or mechanical refrigeration, which is capable of
lowering the temperature of the shell stock and maintaining it at
fifty degrees Fahrenheit (50° F) or less.
"Tongs" means any
shellfishing implement constructed with heads attached to stales
(handles) and pinned at a pivot point to allow the opening and
closing of the basket mouth formed by the two.
"Total length"
means the straight linear distance from the tip of the snout to the
end of the tail of a finfish species. All finfish species’
minimum sizes are measured as total length, except for coastal
sharks, in which minimum size is measured by fork length.
"Transaction records"
means invoices or similar records of the purchase marine species by a
licensed dealer, which identify the boat, license holder, the Rhode
Island dealer name, and the date sold, species landed, pounds landed,
name of the seller, and license number of the seller.
"Trawl devices"
means any type of fishing apparatus drawn behind a vessel which
consists of otter doors and/or ground cables, ropes, and/or netting,
including, but not be limited to beam trawls, otter trawls, Scottish
seines, and pair trawls.
"Trip" means a
fishing voyage beginning with the departure from any port and
terminating with the return to any port regardless of the duration of
time.
"Trip level data"
means data reported to the detail of each individual fishing trip.
"V-notched female
American lobster" means any female American lobster with a
v-notch mark, or the remnant of a healed v-notch mark in the end part
of the right tail flipper adjacent to the middle tail flipper, or any
lobster which is mutilated in such a manner which could hide,
obscure, or obliterate such a mark, including a missing right tail
flipper. A v-notch shall be a notch or the remnant of a healed notch,
with or without setal hairs, at least one eighth of an inch (1/8”)
in depth. Any licensed/permitted commercial fisherman required or
authorized to mark lobsters with a v-notch mark in LCMA 2 shall make
a v-notch mark by means of a sharp-blade instrument, at least one
quarter of an inch (1/4”) and not greater than one half of an
inch (1/2”) in depth and tapering to a sharp point. The flipper
to the right of the center flipper will be examined when the
underside of the lobster is down and its tail is toward the person
making the determination.
"Vessel" means
every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water,
used, or capable of being used as a means of transportation on water.
"Water-assisted harvest"
means the attempt to collect aquatic species by using a water pump or
pressurized water, or device designed to disturb the substrate,
create a vacuum effect or sediment displacement.
"Week" means a
calendar week, or the period beginning on Sunday at 12:00 A.M. and
ending on 11:59 P.M. of the immediately following Saturday.
"Weir" means a
barrier of interwoven twine, branches, or other material used to
catch fish.
"Wet storage" means
the temporary storage of shellfish (from growing areas) in the
approved classification or in the open status of the conditional
approved classification in containers or floats in natural bodies of
water or in tanks containing natural or synthetic sea-water; this
includes flow-through systems.
"Whelk pot" means
any pot designed or adapted principally for the catching or taking of
whelks.
"Wild shellfish stock"
means natural shellfish resources that set and grow within the waters
of the State and are not cultured in any way; however, cultured
shellfish crops that are stocked in tidal waters of the State that
are not within an aquaculture lease or facility are considered wild
stock shellfish.
"Wild stock" means
natural resources, including aquatic or marine animals or plants,
which grow within the waters of the State, and are not cultured in
any way. Any shellfish that have settled naturally within an
aquaculture facility are considered wild stock.
1.14 Commonly Used Acronyms
"ACCSP" means
Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program.
“ASMFC” means
Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.
"CRMC" means Rhode
Island Coastal Resources Management Council.
"DEM" or
"Department" means Rhode Island Department of Environmental
Management.
"Division" means
the Division of Marine Fisheries of the Department of Environmental
Management.
"DOH" means Rhode
Island Department of Health.
"LCMA" means
Lobster Conservation Management Area.
"LCMA 2" means
Lobster Conservation Management Area 2, as delineated in Amendment 3,
Appendix 1 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for American
Lobster, adopted by the ASMFC in December 1997.
"LTA" means Lobster
trap allocation, either issued by the Department or NOAA Fisheries.
"NOAA" means
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
"RIMFC" means the
Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council (R.I. Gen. Laws §
20-10-2).
"SAFIS" means
Standard Atlantic Fisheries Information System.
"TAL" means Total
allowable landings.
1.15 Common Species
"Alewife" means
Alosa pseudoharengus , alewives.
"American eel"
means Anguilla rostrata .
"American lobster"
means Homarus americanus (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"American plaice"
means Hippoglossoides platessoides , Dab.
“American shad”
means Alosa sapidissima .
"Atlantic angel shark"
means Squatina dumeril .
"Atlantic cod"
means Gadus morhua , cod, codfish.
"Atlantic menhaden"
means Brevoortia tyrannus , pogies, menhaden, peanut bunker.
"Atlantic herring"
means Clupea harengus .
"Atlantic rock crab"
means Cancer irroratus , sand crab.
"Atlantic horseshoe
crab" means Limulus polyphemus .
“Atlantic salmon”
means Salmo salar .
“Atlantic sturgeon”
means Acipenser oxyrhnchus .
"Barndoor skate"
means Dipturus laevis.
"Basking shark"
means Cetorhinus maximus .
"Bay quahaug" means
Mercenaria mercenaria , hard clam, quahaug, quahog (R.I.
Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Bay scallop" means
Argopecten irradians (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Blacknose shark"
means Carcharhinus acronotus.
"Black sea bass"
means Centropristes striatus .
"Blacktip shark"
means Carcharhinus limbatus.
"Blueback herring"
means Alosa aestivalis .
"Blue crab" means
Callinectes sapidus (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Bluefish means"
Pomatomus saltatrix , skipjack.
"Blue mussel" means
Mytilus edulis (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Blue shark" means
Prionace glauca.
"Bigeye sandtiger shark"
means Odontaspis noronhai.
"Bigeye sixgill shark"
means Hexanchus nakamurai .
"Bigeye thresher"
shark means Alopias superciliosus.
"Bignose shark"
means Carcharhinus altimus.
"Bluntnose sixgill
shark" means Hexanchus griseus.
"Bonnethead shark"
means Sphyrna tiburo .
"Bull shark" means
Carcharhinus leucas.
"Caribbean sharpnose
shark" means Rhizoprionodon porosus.
"Common thresher"
shark means Alopias vulpinus .
"Conch" means
Channeled Whelk – Busycotypus canaliculatus ; or Knobbed
Whelk – Busycon carica (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Dusky shark" means
Carcharhinus obscurus .
"Finetooth shark"
means Carcharhinus isodon .
"Florida smoothhound
shark" means Mustelis norrisi.
"Galapagos shark"
means Carcharhinus galapagensis .
"Great hammerhead shark"
means Sphyrna mokarran .
"Green crab" means
Carcinus maenas (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Haddock" means
Melanogrammus aeglefinus .
"Jonah crab" means
Cancer borealis , Rock crab.
"Monkfish" means
Lophius americanus , goosefish .
"Narrowtooth shark"
means Carcharhinus brachyurus.
"Night shark" means
Carcharhinus signatus.
"Ocean quahog"
means Arctica islandica (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Nurse shark" means
Ginglymostoma cirratum .
"Ocean quahog"
means Arctica islandica .
"Oyster" means
American oyster, Crassostrea virginica or European oyster –
Ostrea edulis (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Pollock" means
Pollachius virens .
"Porbeagle shark"
means Lamna nasus .
"Reef shark" means
Carcharhinus perezii .
“River herring”
means blueback herring and alewife.
"Sand tiger shark"
means Carcharias taurus .
"Scalloped hammerhead
shark" means Sphyrna lewini .
"Scup" means
Stenotomus chrysops , porgie.
"Sea scallop" means
Placopecten magellanicus (R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-3).
"Sharpnose sevengill
shark" means Heptranchias perlo.
"Shortfin mako shark"
means Isurus oxyrinchus .
"Silky shark" means
Carcharhinus falciformis .
"Smalltail shark"
means Carcharhinus porosus.
"Smooth dogfish"
means Mustelus canis , smoothhound shark .
"Smooth hammerhead
shark" means Sphyrna zygaena .
"Soft‑shelled
clam" means Mya arenaria , steamer (R.I. Gen. Laws §
20-1-3).
"Spinner shark"
means Carcharhinus brevipinna.
"Spiny dogfish"
means Squalus acanthias .
"Striped bass"
means Morone saxatilis , rockfish, striper.
"Summer flounder"
means Paralichthys dentatus , fluke.
"Surf clam" means
Spisula solidissima , sea clam.
"Tautog" means
Tautoga onitis, blackfish.
"Thorny skate"
means Amblyraja radiata.
"Tiger shark" means
Galeocerdo cuvier .
“Weakfish” means
Cynoscion regalis, Squeteague.
"Whale shark" means
Rhincodon typus.
"White shark" means
Archarodon carcharias .
"Winter flounder"
means Pleuronectes americanus .
"Witch flounder"
means Glyptocephalus cynoglossus, gray sole.
"Yellowtail flounder"
means Limanda ferruginea .
1.16 Shellfish and Marine Life
Management Areas
A. Shellfish and Marine Life
Management Areas are established by the Director pursuant to R.I.
Gen. Laws § 20-3-4.
B. Greenwich Bay (GB)
Shellfish Management Area: The marine waters of Greenwich Bay in its
entirety located west of a line extending from the flagpole at the
Warwick Country Club (Latitude: 41.672412 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.389382 Decimal Degrees West) to the end of Sandy Point
on the Potowomut Shore (Latitude: 41.662997 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.408568 Decimal Degrees West), in the town of East
Greenwich and city of Warwick.
1. GB sub-area 1 (western GB):
The marine waters located north of a line extending from the far
northeastern section of Chepiwanoxet Point (Latitude: 41.674585
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.441152 Decimal Degrees West) to
the western fixed pier on Promenade Street, Old Buttonwoods
(Latitude: 41.684468 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.417575
Decimal Degrees West) in the town of East Greenwich and city of
Warwick.
2. GB sub-area 2 (mid-GB): The
marine waters located west of a line extending from Sally Rock Point
(Latitude: 41.671413 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.425511
Decimal Degrees West) to the western fixed pier on Promenade Street,
Old Buttonwoods (Latitude: 41.684468 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.417575 Decimal Degrees West); and south of a line
extending from the far northeastern section of Chepiwanoxet Point
(Latitude: 41.674585 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.441152
Decimal Degrees West) to the western fixed pier on Promenade Street,
Old Buttonwoods (Latitude: 41.684468 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.417575 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of East
Greenwich and city of Warwick.
3. GB sub-area 3 (eastern GB):
The marine waters located east of a line extending from Sally Rock
Point (Latitude: 41.671413 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.425511 Decimal Degrees West) northward to the fixed pier on
Promenade Street, Old Buttonwoods (Latitude: 41.684468 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.417575 Decimal Degrees West); and west
of a line extending from the flagpole at the Warwick Country Club
(Latitude: 41.672412 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.389382
Decimal Degrees West) to the end of Sandy Point on the Potowomut
Shore (Latitude: 41.662997 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.408568 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of East Greenwich and
city of Warwick.
C. Conimicut Point Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters located south of a line extending
from a pole on Conimicut Point (Latitude: 41.717493 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.357820 Decimal Degrees West) to the center of
the Old Tower at Nayatt Point (Latitude: 41.725121 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.338957 Decimal Degrees West); and north of a
line extending from the western most extension of Samuel Gorton
Avenue (Latitude: 41.703781 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.365120 Decimal Degrees West) in the city of Warwick, to the
southern-most extension of Bay Road in the town of Barrington
(Latitude: 41.722546 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.309105
Decimal Degrees West).
D. Potowomut Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters located south of a line extending
from the flagpole at the Warwick Country Club (Latitude: 41.672412
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.389382 Decimal Degrees West) to
the end of Sandy Point on the Potowomut Shore (Latitude: 41.662997
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.408568 Decimal Degrees West);
and north of a line extending from the end of Pojac Point (Latitude:
41.650506 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.408400 Decimal
Degrees West) to buoy G1 “Round Rock” (Latitude:
41.656736 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.390567 Decimal
Degrees West) to the Warwick Lighthouse (Latitude: 41.667124 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.378385 Decimal Degrees West), including
all the marine waters of the Potowomut River seaward of the Forge
Road Spillway, in the town of East Greenwich and city of Warwick.
1. Potowomut sub-area 1
(western Potowomut): The marine waters located west of a line
extending from the end of Sandy Point on the Potowomut Shore
(Latitude: 41.662997 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.408568
Decimal Degrees West) to buoy G1 “Round Rock” (Latitude:
41.656736 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.390567 Decimal
Degrees West) to the end of Pojac Point (Latitude: 41.650506 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.408400 Decimal Degrees West) in the
town of East Greenwich and city of Warwick.
2. Potowomut sub-area 2
(mid-Potowomut/closed area): The marine waters within a triangular
area located north of a line extending from the end of Sandy Point on
the Potowomut Shore (Latitude: 41.662997 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.408568 Decimal Degrees West) to buoy G1 “Round
Rock” (Latitude: 41.656736 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.390567 Decimal Degrees West); and west of a line extending from
the flagpole at the Warwick Country Club (Latitude: 41.672412 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.389382 Decimal Degrees West) to buoy G1
“Round Rock” (Latitude: 41.656736 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.390567 Decimal Degrees West); and east of a line
extending from the flagpole at the Warwick Country Club (Latitude:
41.672412 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.389382 Decimal
Degrees West) to the seaward end of Sandy Point on the Potowomut
Shore (Latitude: 41.662997 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.408568 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of East Greenwich and
city of Warwick.
3. Potowomut sub-area 3
(eastern Potowomut): The marine waters east of a line extending from
the flagpole at the Warwick Country Club (Latitude: 41.672412 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.389382 Decimal Degrees West) to buoy G1
“Round Rock” (Latitude: 41.656736 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.390567 Decimal Degrees West); and west of a line
extending from buoy G1 “Round Rock” (Latitude: 41.656736
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.390567 Decimal Degrees West) to
the Warwick Lighthouse (Latitude: 41.667124 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.378385 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of East
Greenwich and city of Warwick.
E. High Banks Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters located south of a line extending
from the seaward end of Pojac Point (Latitude: 41.650506 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.408400 Decimal Degrees West) to buoy G1
“Round Rock” (Latitude: 41.656736 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.390567 Decimal Degrees West); and west of a line
extending from buoy G1 “Round Rock” (Latitude: 41.656736
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.390567 Decimal Degrees West) to
the southeast corner coordinate (Latitude: 41.635211 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.396539 Decimal Degrees West); and north of a
line extending from the seaward end of the fence located between the
former Davisville Navy property and Pettee Street in the Mount View
section (Latitude: 41.634401 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.407115 Decimal Degrees West) to High Banks southeast corner
coordinate (Latitude: 41.635211 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.396539 Decimal Degrees West), in the town of North Kingstown. The
southeast corner coordinate is established at the intersection of two
lines described as follows: One (1) line extends from the easternmost
end of Pier 2 at Davisville (Latitude: 41.615012 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.402139 Decimal Degrees West) to buoy G1 “Round
Rock” (Latitude: 41.656736 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.390567 Decimal Degrees West); The second line extends from the
seaward end of the fence between the former Davisville Navy property
and Pettee Street in the Mount View section (Latitude: 41.634401
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.407115 Decimal Degrees West) to
buoy N6 (Latitude: 41.637323 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.369265 Decimal Degrees West), located mid-bay west of Prudence
Island.
F. Bissel Cove/Fox Island
Shellfish Management Area: The marine waters of Bissel Cove in its
entirety and adjacent waters of Narragansett Bay located south of a
line extending from utility pole #275 at the corner of Waldron and
Seaview Avenues (Latitude: 41.553567 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.429705 Decimal Degrees West) to the southwestern-most
point of Fox Island (Latitude: 41.553236 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.419937 Decimal Degrees West); and west of a line
extending from the southwestern-most point of Fox Island (Latitude:
41.553236 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.419937 Decimal
Degrees West) to the northern-most point of Rome point (Latitude:
41.548853 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.423836 Decimal
Degrees West), in the town of North Kingstown.
G. Mill Gut Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Mill Gut in its entirety
located south of the northern-most bridge on Colt Drive (Latitude:
41.681840 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.299113 Decimal
Degrees West), in the town of Bristol.
H. Bristol Harbor Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Bristol Harbor and its
tributaries located south of a line extending from the CRMC permitted
dock #419 located at 163 Poppasquash Road (Latitude: 41.669558
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.288764 Decimal Degrees West) to
the northwest corner of the Rockwell Pier municipal parking lot
(Latitude: 41.669742 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.279250
Decimal Degrees West); and north of a line extending from the north
side of CRMC Permitted Dock #1601 where it meets the shoreline
(Latitude: 41.664246 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.290396
Decimal Degrees West), located at 363 Poppasquash Road to the
northwest corner of the U.S. Coast Guard station pier (Latitude:
41.666268 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.278351 Decimal
Degrees West); and west of a line extending from utility pole # 20 on
Poppasquash Road (Latitude: 41.682529 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.285175 Decimal Degrees West) to the northern extremity
of Hog Island (Latitude: 41.647959 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.279880 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Bristol. The
northeast corner coordinate is established at (Latitude: 41.669666
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.283207 Decimal Degrees West).
The Southeast Corner Coordinate is established at (Latitude:
41.665503 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.282569 Decimal
Degrees West).
I. Kickemuit River Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of the Kickemuit River in its
entirety located north of a line extending from the seaward end of
Narrows Road (Latitude: 41.696927 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.246322 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Bristol to Nun Buoy 6
(Latitude: 41.698489 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.244195
Decimal Degrees West) to a point (Latitude: 41.699115 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.243342 Decimal Degrees West) in the
southwestern section of the Little Neck/Touisset section of the town
of Warren.
J. Jenny Creek Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Jenny Pond on Prudence Island
in its entirety located north of its mouth at its inlet at Pine Hill
Cove (Latitude: 41.629838 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.333696 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Portsmouth.
K. Sakonnet River Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters located north of a line extending
from Sachuest Point (Latitude: 41.472362 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.247257 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Middletown
to Sakonnet Light (Latitude: 41.453130 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.202434 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Little
Compton to Sakonnet Point (Latitude: 41.454587 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.195124 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Little
Compton; and south of a line extending from a point on the shoreline
(Latitude: 41.519498 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.230893
Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Portsmouth to Brown Point
(Latitude: 41.519896 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.204959
Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Little Compton; and east of a
line extending from a point on the shoreline (Latitude: 41.504347
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.239782 Decimal Degrees West) in
the town of Middletown to Flint Point (Latitude: 41.486523 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.237974 Decimal Degrees West) in the
town of Middletown.
L. Point Judith Pond Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Point Judith Pond in its
entirety located east of the bridge at Succotash Road (Latitude:
41.386004 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.526019 Decimal
Degrees West) in the town of South Kingstown; and north of the mouth
of the breachway where it meets the Harbor of Refuge (Latitude:
41.375149 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.513755 Decimal
Degrees West) in the town of Narragansett.
M. Potter Pond Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Potter Pond in its entirety
located west of the bridge at Succotash Road (Latitude: 41.386004
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.526019 Decimal Degrees West) in
the town of South Kingstown.
1. Potter Pond sub-area 1
(closed area): The marine waters of Sycamore Cove located north of a
line extending easterly from point “A” (Latitude:
41.383435 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.537009 Decimal
Degrees West) to point “B” (Latitude: 41.383661 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.533286 Decimal Degrees West); from
point “B” following the Sycamore Cove shoreline
approximately six hundred thirty-eight (638) meters back to point
“A.”
N. Ninigret (Charlestown) Pond
Shellfish Management Area: The marine waters of Ninigret Pond in its
entirety located west of the bridge at Charlestown Beach Road
(Latitude: 41.364173 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.625958
Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Charlestown; and north of the
mouth of Charlestown Breachway (Latitude: 41.354865 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.638536 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of
Charlestown.
1. Ninigret Pond sub-area 1
(western closed area): The marine waters within an area enclosed by
the following points and boundaries: from point “A” at
the north end of the Ninigret Conservation Area parking lot
(Latitude: 41.344726 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.690149
Decimal Degrees West); following the Ninigret Conservation Area
shoreline approximately five hundred eighty (580) meters eastward to
point “B” (Latitude: 41.346815 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.683958 Decimal Degrees West); from point “B”
approximately one thousand three hundred eighty-two (1,382) meters
northward to point “C” at the Ninigret Landing Marina
(Latitude: 41.358561 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.689409
Decimal Degrees West); from point “C” following the
shoreline approximately nine hundred sixty-two (962) meters westward
to “D” at the westernmost end of Reeds Point (Latitude:
41.352794 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.694621 Decimal
Degrees West); from point “D” approximately nine hundred
seventy-one (971) meters southward to point “A”,
completing the final boundary.
2. Ninigret Pond-Foster Cove
sub-area 1 (northern closed area): The marine waters within an area
enclosed by the following points and boundaries: from point “A”
on the Foster Cove shoreline (Latitude: 41.366362 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.676036 Decimal Degrees West); from point “A”
approximately forty-six (46) meters southward to point “B”
(Latitude: 41.365970 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.676220
Decimal Degrees West); from point “B” approximately
eighty-two (82) meters eastward to point “C” (Latitude:
41.365690 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.675310 Decimal
Degrees West); from point “C” approximately forty-six
(46) meters northward to point “D” (Latitude: 41.366086
Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.675128 Decimal Degrees West);
from point “D” following the shoreline approximately one
hundred nine (109) meters eastward to point “A”
completing the final boundary.
3. Ninigret Pond-Foster Cove
sub-area 2 (eastern closed area): The marine waters within
twenty-five (25) meters of the shoreline surrounding the Ninigret
National Wildlife Refuge western point enclosed by the following
points and boundaries: from point “A” on the Foster Cove
shoreline (Latitude: 41.363705 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.673512 Decimal Degrees West); following the shoreline
approximately 209 meters westward to point “B” at the end
of the point (Latitude: 41.364515 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.675236 Decimal Degrees West); from point “B”
following the shoreline approximately one hundred eighty-three (183)
meters eastward to point “C” (Latitude: 41.364330 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.673220 Decimal Degrees West).
O. Quonochontaug Pond
Shellfish Management Area: The marine waters of Quonochontaug Pond in
its entirety located north of the mouth of Quonochontaug Breachway
(Latitude: 41.330878 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.718764
Decimal Degrees West) in the towns of Charlestown and Westerly.
1. Quonochontaug Pond sub-area
1 (western closed area): The marine waters within an area enclosed by
the following points and boundaries: the waters south of a line
extending approximately nine hundred eleven (911) meters easterly
from “A” on the southern end of Quahaug Point (Latitude:
41.333330 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.744365 degrees West)
in the town of Westerly; to “B” at the northern end of
Nope’s Island (Latitude: 41.334528 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.733593 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Westerly;
from “B” following the Quonochontaug Barrier shoreline
generally westward, approximately one thousand five hundred
forty-five (1,545) meters to “C” in the town of Westerly
(Latitude: 41.330564 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.744459
degrees West); from “C” approximately three hundred seven
(307) meters northward to “A” completing the final
boundary, in the town of Westerly.
2. Quonochontaug Pond sub-area
2 (eastern closed area): The marine waters within an area enclosed by
the following points and boundaries: the waters east of a line
extending approximately six hundred seventy-three (673) meters
southerly from point “A” on the eastern end of the QYC
stone pier (Latitude: 41.350312 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.709292 degrees West) in the town of Charlestown; to point “B”
at the eastern end of the unnamed island (Latitude: 41.344710 Decimal
Degrees North, Longitude: -71.712336 Decimal Degrees West) in the
town of Charlestown; from point “B” following the
Quonochontaug Pond shoreline generally northward, approximately one
thousand one hundred twenty (1,120) meters back to point “A”
completing the final boundary.
P. Winnapaug Pond Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Winnapaug Pond in its entirety
located north of the mouth of Weekapaug Breachway (Latitude:
41.327627 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.762913 Decimal
Degrees West) in the town of Westerly.
1. Winnapaug Pond sub-area 1
(closed area): The marine waters within an area enclosed by the
following points and boundaries: the waters north of a line extending
approximately one thousand two hundred thirty nine (1,239) meters
easterly from point “A” on the southeastern portion of
Big Rock Point (Latitude: 41.330229 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.799555 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Westerly; to point
“B” at the southern end of Larkin's Island (Latitude:
41.331958 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.784941 Decimal
Degrees West) in the town of Westerly; from point “B”
approximately one hundred nineteen (119) meters northwesterly to
point “C” adjacent to the end of Bayside Avenue
(Latitude: 41.332611 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.786066
Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Westerly; from point “C”
following the shoreline generally westward, approximately one
thousand five hundred ninety (1,590) meters to point “A”,
completing the final boundary.
Q. Green Hill Pond Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Green Hill Pond in its entirety
located east of the bridge at Charlestown Beach Road (Latitude:
41.364173 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.625958 Decimal
Degrees West), in the towns of Charlestown and South Kingstown.
R. Narrow River Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of the Narrow River in its
entirety located west and north of its mouth at the Narrows
(Latitude: 41.442019 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.440679
Decimal Degrees West) in the town of Narragansett; south of Gilbert
Stuart Rd. (Latitude: 41.519845 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71. 444608 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of and North Kingstown;
and north of Mumford Rd. (Latitude: 41.439006 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.473478 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of
Narragansett.
S. Little Narragansett Bay and
Pawcatuck River Shellfish Management Area: The marine waters of
Little Narragansett Bay and Pawcatuck River within the State of Rhode
Island located northeast of a line extending from the DEM range
marker on a pole near the southeastern extremity of Sandy Point
(Latitude: 41.321703 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.878691
Decimal Degrees West) to a DEM range marker on a pole on the northern
shoreline of Napatree Point (Latitude 41.310300 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude -71.877500 Decimal Degrees West), including all
waters of the “Kitchen” so called, and those waters
northeast of the southwest shoreline of Sandy Point to the State line
(and south of the Route 1 Bridge (Latitude: 41.377688 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.831481 Decimal Degrees West) in the town of
Westerly.
T. Providence and Seekonk
Rivers Shellfish Management Area: The marine waters of the Providence
and Seekonk Rivers and their tributaries located north of a line
extending from the flagpole on Conimicut Point in the city of Warwick
(Latitude: 41.717493 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.35820
Decimal Degrees West) to the center of the Old Tower at Nayatt Point
in the town of Barrington (Latitude: 41.725121 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.338957 Decimal Degrees West); and southerly and
seaward of the Hurricane barrier (Latitude: 41.815785 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.401958 Decimal Degrees West) in the city of
Providence; and southerly and seaward of the Main Street Dam
(Latitude: 41.876594 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.383100
Decimal Degrees West) in the in the city of Pawtucket.
U. Warren River Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of the Warren River and its
tributaries located north and east of a line extending from the
flagpole at 178 Adams Point Road in town of Barrington (Latitude:
41.716089 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.293291 Decimal
Degrees West) to the DEM range marker at Jacobs Point in the town of
Warren (Latitude: 41.714306 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.286673 Decimal Degrees West); and southerly and downstream of the
Main Street/Route 114 bridge at its intersection with the Barrington
River in the town of Barrington (Latitude: 41.736701 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.295451 Decimal Degrees West); and southerly and
downstream of the Main Street/Route 114 bridge at its intersection
with the Palmer River in towns of Bristol and Warren (Latitude:
41.737396 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.289081 Decimal
Degrees West).
W. Town Pond Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of Founders Brook and Town Pond in
their entirety located south of the tidal connection to Mount Hope
Bay in the town of Portsmouth (Latitude: 41.638944 Decimal Degrees
North, Longitude: -71.245269 Decimal Degrees West).
X. Jacobs Point Shellfish
Management Area: The marine waters of the Warren River located south
of a line extending from the DEM range marker on the shore north of
Jacobs Point (Latitude: 41.714306 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude:
-71.286673 Decimal Degrees West) to nun buoy 12 in the town of Warren
(Latitude: 41.713780 Decimal Degrees North, Longitude: -71.291593
Decimal Degrees West); and east of a line extending from nun buoy 12
to the DEM range marker on the shore south of Jacobs Point in the
town of Bristol (Latitude: 41.710253 Decimal Degrees North,
Longitude: -71.291327 Decimal Degrees West).
Y. Upper Sakonnet River Marine
Life Management Area: The marine waters of the Sakonnet River north
of a line extending from McCurry Point in the town of Portsmouth to
the southern end of Jack's Island (so-called) in the town of
Tiverton, and south of the Sakonnet River Bridge (Rt. 24).
Z. Upper Narragansett Bay
Marine Life Management Area: The marine waters north of a line
extending from Spink Neck in the town of North Kingstown to Pine Hill
Point on Prudence Island, and from Homestead Dock on the easterly
shore of Prudence Island to the Hog Island Shoal Light in the town of
Bristol; and south of a line extending from Sandy Point to the
southern tip of Warwick Point in the city of Warwick; and from the
dock at Rocky Point in the city of Warwick to the southern tip of
Poppasquash Point to Hog Island Shoal Light in the town of Bristol.
AA. Menhaden Management Area:
Narragansett Bay in its entirety is designated a Menhaden Management
Area pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-4.1-1. This area shall
include the east and west passages of Narragansett Bay, Mount Hope
Bay, and the Sakonnet River, and be bordered on the south by a line
from Bonnet Point to Beavertail Point to Castle Hill Light. The
southern boundary further extends from Land's End to Sachuest Point
and then to Sakonnet Light.