| 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 |
LEGISLATIVE INFO
