Aggregate Program

Regulation Authority:

R.I. Gen. Laws § 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 § 42-35-18(b)(5)
Administrative Procedures Act
as amended.

Purpose and Reason:

a. Noticed rule: Add tautog to the summer/fall aggregate program.

• Industry proposal to amend section 23.11 to add tautog to the rule with the following stipulations:  

1. 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;

2. 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.

• 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.

• Section 23.12(A)(3):  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