Rhode Island General Assembly Press Releases
1/5/2010
Assembly enacts saltwater fishing license over veto
STATE HOUSE Faced with federal regulations that otherwise would have
imposed a higher fee on local fishermen, legislators today voted to
override the governor’s veto to create the Ocean State’s first
recreational saltwater fishing license.
The license, which will cost $7 for state residents, will be required
for those fishing recreationally in the coastal waters of Rhode Island.
Lawmakers said failure to enact the legislation (2009-S 0969Aaa, 2009-H
6226aa) would cost local fisherman more because they would otherwise be
subject to a new federal license that would cost several times what the
state license would cost and would not allow them to fish in neighboring
states.
“Access to the shore and to fishing is so sacred here in Rhode Island
that it is protected specifically in the state’s constitution. We have
long been loath to do anything to curb that freedom, but federal law
supercedes state law. A license is going to be required by the federal
government if we don’t have our own. This legislation is a solution that
brings Rhode Island into compliance with the federal law in a way that
costs our fishermen as little as possible,” said Senator Lenihan
(D-Dist. 35, East Greenwich, North Kingstown, Warwick).
In his veto message, the governor stated that fishing is a birthright of
all Rhode Islanders, and that people who occasionally take their
children fishing should not be subject to a fee.
However, the new federal law requires the registration of all saltwater
fishermen nationwide so regulators will have access to their contact
information when conducting surveys on fish catches. States without
their own licensing programs will be required to use the more expensive
federal license. A committee that included representatives from the
Department of Environmental Management’s Fish and Wildlife Division, the
Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association and others spent months
developing the proposal in response to the federal requirement.
The bill’s sponsors say the new program is an effort to save fishermen
money and cooperate with national efforts to study and preserve fisheries.
“This legislation was the result of a year of work by anglers and state
agencies who sought to preserve Rhode Islanders’ fishing rights and keep
their costs low while complying with the new federal regulations,” said
Representative Kilmartin (D-Dist.61, Pawtucket). “Without this bill,
this summer Rhode Island anglers would be paying $60 to Connecticut and
$10 to Massachusetts. Now we have reciprocity, which means those with a
Rhode Island license can legally fish in those states, too,”
Rhode Island has long required licenses for freshwater fishing. Those
licenses currently cost $18 and, like their new saltwater counterpart,
help to provide funding to programs that support the healthy fisheries
and access to them.
The license will not be required for commercial fishermen, those under
16, the blind or disabled or those on leave from active military
service. Those who hold a federal recreational fishing license or a
license from a state with which Rhode Island agrees to have license
reciprocity will also be exempt.
The license will cost $7 for state residents, $10 for those who don’t
live in Rhode Island, and will be free for residents who are 65 or older
or in active military service. Seven-day licenses would also be offered
for $5 for both residents and nonresidents. Like freshwater licenses,
they will be available at bait shops and retailers.
Those fishing in violation of the chapter would be guilty of a civil
infraction and would be fined $10 for the first offense, $50 for the
second and $100 each for subsequent offenses. The money raised will fund
administration of the licensing program and support fisheries management
and improvement.
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Waterman, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457
