JUNE, 2009 Representing Over 6,500 Recreational Anglers Like It Or Not, New England, It's Here
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OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE RHODE ISLAND SALTWATER Association 6 Arnold Road, Coventry, RI 02816 www.RISAA.org 401-826-2121 JUNE, 2009 Representing Over 6,500 Recreational Anglers Like it or not, New England, it's here..... Saltwater Recreational Fishing License Becomes A Reality Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York - and now Rhode Island - all have bills introduced for a saltwater fishing license few years ago, the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers • Funds generated would go into restricted account and AAssociation (RISAA) conducted an online survey of used only for recreational fishing members. It touched on a number of issues such as seminars, • It would be among the lowest cost compared to other states events and menhaden, but one of the important questions was: • Exemptions for under 16 yrs, over 65 yrs, disabled, military Would you support a recreational saltwater fishing license? • Easy online registration or at local bait shops A. Yes, if there were guarantees that funds were protected • Annual report by DEM to Marine Fisheries Council & public and the money raised went back to the marine environment B. No, not under any circumstances "I am proud of the product and the C. Other responses process," said RIDEM Director W. The unexpected result was that over 70% responded in favor Michael Sullivan. of a license "if the funds were protected" and those "other "On a personal level, I feel the group responses" mostly agreed, but wanted to say how the money did a good job," said RISAA President should be spent or protected. Steve Medeiros. "I'm satisfied that the This survey took place before anyonecould know that in the Study Group came up with the best near future there would be a federal law mandating a national possible solution for all Rhode Island registry, and that every state would eventually have a saltwater anglers." fishing license. The members of the Study Group were Director Sullivan It appears that time has arrived. By 2011, every coastal state all quick to thank Director Sullivan for his willingness to in the U.S. will have a recreational saltwater license in place. What compromise and listen to the concerns of the recreational fishing will that license look like for Rhode Island? What will happen to community. The Group also thanked Bob Ballou, Sullivan's the money generated? assistant who co-chaired the Group through 8 months of Thanks to an 8-month cooperative effort of a Study Group of meetings. leaders of many saltwater fishing clubs, charter industry The final product is legislation that will be introduced in the representatives, and bait & tackle shops,working in partnership both House and Senate, and legislators who have proven to be with Rhode Island DEM, and the cooperation of several key friends of public access and recreational fishing will be asked to legislators, a saltwater license for Rhode Island has come forth sign on and introduce the bill. that incorporates all of the requirements that recreational anglers For the text of the legislation, go to page 48 have called for in past years. Key features include: RISAA Foundation contribution helps 2009 Fluke regulations for R.I. to keep Ninigret night fishing open fter much anticipation, the 2009 recreational summer A flounder regulations for Rhode Island was finally settled, n an effort to keep the Ninigret Wildlife Refuge open for but anglers were not pleased with the result. Rhode Island had I ater anglers to fish the worm hatch at night, the RISAA to take a 42% reduction in quota for 2009. The new regulation: foundation partnered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to purchase night surveillance equipment that would be used by Minimum size: 21 inches the Charlestown Police so that the Town Park could remain Daily Bag: 6 fish per angler open beyond sunset so anglers could have access to this fishing area. (Complete story on page 23) Season: June 17 to December 31 R.I.S.A.A. / June, 2009 The License, Coast Guard Meeting - LNG ot everyone will be pleased by the news that a recreational Richard LaFaille, President of the Weekapaug SurfCasters. "The Nsaltwater license is on our doorstep, but we all knew it was end result will benefit most of the fishing community." coming. We did our best to keep RISAA membership aware of "The data is the most important missing ingredient to issues as they unfolded over the past few years. recreational fisheries management," said Capt. John Rainone, Some have said I sold them out by getting involved in this, President of the R.I. Party & Charter Boat Association. "Hopefully but I always believe we should take an active part in the process, this will be the beginning of solving that problem." rather than have something shoved down our throats that we all And David Giuliano, Narragansett Surfcasters said, "This didn't like. license addresses all the issues we were looking to resolve and Our fishing quota system was a mess. At times we receive several we weren't even aware of. The new advisory board will big cuts in our catch allotment, yet we knew there was plenty of insure input from the recreational fishing population so as to ensure fish out there. At other times they told us everything is fine fair and even application and modifications in the future." (stripers?) but we think they might be wrong. Just look at the Our next task is to make sure this bill passes though the House mess we have with summer flounder. and Senate Committees, unscathed, and then onto for full floor Blame MRFSS, the phone survey and dockside interview votes. We need to have the legislation in place this year in order to program that supposedly tells the federal fish counters how many be approved by NOAA in time to be an "exempted state" from the fish we caught and what we should get the next year. MRFSS had Federal registry next year. plenty of things wrong with it, but it was all they had. Then the Magnuson-Stevens Act was reauthorized and within COAST GUARD MEETING - LNG & CROSSING B.I. SOUND the legislation came forth the mandate to count saltwater Last month I was invited to attend a meeting at DEM in recreational fishermen. Register us all, and then they would know Providence with U.S. Coast Guard Captain Raymond Perry, who is for sure who call to get information. They would finally know for in charge of the Southeastern New England region. The purpose sure how many of us are out there fishing. of the meeting was to be able to discuss RISAA concerns on large And we have no choice. Federal law. LNG ships sailing through Narragansett Bay, and then a second But the Feds don't really want to run the registry. They would issue regarding the federal law which governs the stretch of EEZ rather have each state do it for them, so they encourage all states between Block Island and Galilee. (to page 36) to establish their own registry or license and then apply to be exempted from the Federal registry. They said that if a state doesn't have their own, then their citizens will have to pay the Feds $15- $25 to register and the money will go into the U.S. general fund. IMPORTANT DATES So, as of this writing at the end of May, every coastal U.S. Additional information on these events can be found on state either already HAS a license in place or is working on the the RISAA web site at www.risaa.org/events.html legislation to establish one. It was inevitable that a license would eventually come to Rhode Island. ! Jun 2 RI Ocean SAMP Stakeholders meeting - 6:00 PM But since that day is here, we at least had the opportunity to Coastal Institute, URI Bay Campus, Narragansett voice our concerns, and help to create something that treated ! Jun 6 RISAA Trip to Boston Red Sox ! Jun 12-14 Annual Spring Surf Fishing Club Challenge Rhode Island citizens fairly, and give us the opportunity to help fix ! Jun 20 12th Annual Take-A-Kid-Fishing Day this fishery quota mess and maybe even have a little money left ! Jun 23 RISAA Board of Directors Meeting - 6:30 PM over to improve the state's infrastructure or improve public access. ! Jun 23-25 N.E. Fisheries Management Council Meeting It was an honor for us that RIDEM chose to work with RISAA Holiday Inn, Portland, ME in setting up the process. I was instructed to invite 12 recreational ! Jun 29 RISAA Monthly Seminar - 7:00 PM (see page 12) fisheries leaders, plus a representative of the charter/party industry ! July 27 RISAA Monthly Seminar - 7:00 PM and bait & tackle shops. Fluke Fishing Tips & Tactics Those representatives worked for 8 months on the issue and ! Aug 31 RISAA Monthly Seminar - 7:00 PM the result is announced here today. They were all fair people, Multiple speakers: Fishing Tips & Tricks 101 ! Sep 30 RISAA Quarterly Meeting - 7:00 PM. dedicated to working up a program for the common good. Bob Oberg: Saltwater Fishing From A Kayak Capt. Frank Blount, owner of The Frances Fleet, said "It was ! Oct 26 RISAA Monthly Seminar - 7:00 PM great to work towards a common goal. That goal being better data Capt. Fred Bowman: Tautog Fishing for all involved." R.I. Sea Grant: Tautog Biology "I came out of this process smarter than when I went in," said ! Nov 30 RISAA Monthly Seminar - 7:00 PM - 2 - R.I.S.A.A.