The purpose of these regulations is to establish a process for managing marine fisheries, through the development of management plans and programs, licensing protocols, and data collection systems.

These Rules and Regulations are promulgated pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 42-17.1, 20-2.1, and 20-2.2, R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-1-4 and in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-35.

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.

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.

On the effective date of this Part, all previous Rules and Regulations, and any policies regarding the administration and enforcement of the R.I. Gen. Laws Chapters 20-2 ("Licensing"), 20-2.1 (“Commercial Fishing Licenses”), and 20-3.1 ("Marine Fisheries Management Modernization”), shall be superseded, provided that regulations promulgated by the Director or the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Council pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 20-3 ("Marine Fisheries Council"), will remain in effect until amended or replaced. Provided, furthermore, that 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 was filed.

See Marine Fisheries Definitions, Part 1 of this Subchapter.

2.7.1 Management Controls

A. Fishery endorsements:

1. Fishery endorsement categories shall include:

a. Lobster;

b. Non-Lobster Crustacean: all crustacean species, as well as horseshoe crabs, available for commercial harvest, except lobster;

c. Quahaug;

d. Soft-shell Clam;

e. Shellfish Other: all shellfish species available for commercial harvest, except quahaug and soft-shell clams;

f. Restricted Finfish: scup (only from May 1 through October 31; scup shall be considered Non-Restricted January 1 through April 30, and November 1 through December 31), summer flounder, tautog, striped bass, and black sea bass;

g. Non-Restricted Finfish: all species of finfish and squid available for commercial harvest except the five species specified in the restricted finfish endorsement category; and

h. Whelk: all whelk species available for commercial harvest.

2. The Department may add, eliminate, or modify fishery endorsement categories; in doing so, the Department will consider the status of each fishery, levels of participation by existing license holders, and fisheries management plans and programs.

B. Limits on entry: The Department may establish entrance/exit ratios, lotteries, waiting lists, or other allocation measures as a means for limiting entry consistent with fisheries management plans.

C. Control dates

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. Establishing a control date does not commit the Department to any particular 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.

5. Control dates may only be established prospectively, unless a retroactive control date is expressly required by federal law, regulation or court decision.

6. A control date of December 31, 2007 is established for the soft-shell clam fishery in Rhode Island.

7. A control date of December 31, 2007 is established for the purse seine and mid-water/pair trawl fisheries in Rhode Island.

D. Exit/Entry Ratios:

1. Restricted finfish: For every one (1) license, eligible to harvest restricted finfish, namely, Multi-Purpose Licenses and Principal Effort Licenses with a restricted finfish endorsement, that are not renewed, one (1) new Principal Effort License with restricted finfish endorsement will be made available; provided, that if the application of the exit/entry ratio yields a value less than a multiple of three (3) endorsements, the number of endorsements will be rounded up to yield a multiple of three (3) endorsements.

2. Quahaug: For every one (1) license eligible to harvest quahaug, namely, Multi-Purpose Licenses and Principal Effort Licenses with a quahaug endorsement, that are not renewed, one (1) new Commercial Fishing License with quahaug endorsement will be made available; provided, that if the application of the exit/entry ratio yields one (1) or two (2) licenses/ endorsements, three licenses/endorsements will be made available.

3. Soft-Shell Clam: For every five (5) licenses, eligible to harvest soft shell clam, namely, Multi-Purpose Licenses, Principal Effort Licenses with a soft shell clam endorsement, and Commercial Fishing Licenses with a soft shell clam endorsement, that are not renewed, one (1) new Commercial Fishing License with soft shell clam endorsement will be made available; provided, that if the application of the exit/entry ratio yields one or two (2) licenses/ endorsements, three licenses/endorsements will be made available.

E. Annual promulgation of rules:

1. Availability of new licenses and endorsements, harvest and gear levels, regulations affecting gear, times and seasons, area closures and restrictions, quotas and catch or landings limits, limits on entry, control dates and data reporting shall be established by rule as hereinafter described on an annual basis, no later than December 1 for the following year, provided that said regulations may run for longer periods where management conditions permit, or may be adjusted more frequently where such conditions require.

2.7.2 Management Plans

A. The management controls set forth in these regulations shall be consistent with fisheries management plans adopted by the Department pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2.1-9(5). Such plans shall be updated annually, with the draft plan made available for public review a minimum of thirty (30) days prior to any public hearing that addresses commercial licensing.

B. The management controls set forth in these regulations shall also be consistent with fisheries management plans adopted by a federal agency or regional body of competent jurisdiction.

2.7.3 Emergencies

The Director may promulgate marine fisheries management rules with less than thirty (30) days' notice to RIMFC if and to the extent necessary to comply with federal or regional requirements or to respond to sudden and/or imminent peril or unanticipated developments where delay would likely cause immediate harm to fishery resources or fishers pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-35-2.10.

2.7.4 Data Reporting Required for Commercial Fishing Licenses

A. The holder of any type of commercial fishing license, dealer license, or landing permit shall be deemed to have consented to providing such fishery-related information as the Department may require, including but not limited to, catch, effort, and areas fished consistent with R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-4-5. Reporting shall be required on forms or in a format as prescribed by the Director.

B. The Department will provide applicants with applicable reporting methods at the time of license issuance or renewal.

C. Licensed fishers and dealers may be required to file data reports at the point of sale, and fishers may also be required to maintain logs while fishing.

D. Trips must be documented upon landing.

E. Accurately completed copies of the federal Vessel Trip Reports or state reporting forms shall be kept in numerical order on board the vessel dating back to January 1st of the current year and furnished upon request. A vessel shall be exempt from this requirement if the captain of said vessel is currently enrolled in an electronic logbook program. Instead, the vessel must have all records dating back to January 1st of the current year entered electronically.

F. Due dates for the submittal of reports:

1. For fishing activity occurring in the months of January, February, and March: April 15.

2. For fishing activity occurring in the months of April, May, and June: July 15.

3. For fishing activity occurring in the months of July, August, and September: October 15.

4. For fishing activity occurring in the months of October, November, and December: January 15.

5. To renew prior to January 15, harvester reports must be submitted for all of December if renewing in January and up to date in December if renewing in December.

G. Collection and use of data:

1. Data will be collected, managed and disseminated according to the coastwide minimum protocols of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP).

2. Reported data may be used for management purposes by any properly designated State or federal agency. Reported data may only be used for enforcement purposes by a properly designated state or federal agency if specifically authorized by rule.

3. Any data that are released or reported to the public shall be aggregated so as to not identify individual fishers, vessels or dealers.

2.7.5 Commercial Licensing

A. Application required: Applications for any license or permit issued under these regulations shall contain the following information:

1. Full name;

2. Age;

3. Occupation;

4. Residence address;

5. Mailing address;

6. Weight;

7. Height;

8. Hair color;

9. Eye color;

10. The name of any state or jurisdiction in which the applicant's commercial fishing license and/or permit is currently revoked or suspended; and

11. Driver's License number and state of issuance, or other state-issued photo identification card.

12. Applications must be notarized.

13. Reporting method: Paper Catch and Effort Harvester logbook; or, federal Vessel Trip Report (VTR), or e-TRIPS. The Paper Catch and Effort Harvester logbook and e-TRIPS reporting methods cannot be declared together.

B. Other requirements:

1. A license or permit must be signed and sworn to by the party to whom it is issued in order to be valid.

2. Licenses and permits are valid only for the signed holder and may not be transferred.

3. All fees must have been paid for a license or permit to be valid.

4. A lost or accidentally destroyed license or permit will be replaced for a fee of ten dollars ($10.00), provided that the applicant submits an affidavit to the Department explaining the circumstances of the loss.

5. A lost or accidentally destroyed Certificate of Exemption or permit issued by the Department for harvest of commercial or recreational marine species shall also be replaced for a fee of ten dollars ($10.00), provided that the applicant submits an affidavit to the Department explaining the circumstances of the loss, and provided that the holder notifies the Department within seven (7) days of discovery of the loss.

6. Notice of change of address. Whenever any person holding any commercial fishing license shall move from the address named in his or her last application, that person shall, within ten (10) days subsequent to moving, notify the office of boat registration and licensing of his or her former and current address.

7. Expiration. Unless otherwise specified in this title, all licenses issued under this chapter shall be annual and shall expire on December 31 annually. It shall be unlawful for any person to fish commercially in Rhode Island waters on an expired license application. The grace period set forth in § 2.7.5(C)(5) of this Part shall not extend the validity of any expired license.

C. Application deadlines:

1. The Department will notify all license and permit holders in writing by November 1 that said license or permit, as well as all vessel declarations, expire on December 31 of that year. The Department will also notify all holders of 65 and Over Shellfish, Commercial Fishing, Principal Effort, and Multi-Purpose Licenses in writing by November 1 that said licenses, along with any and all applicable endorsements, must be renewed by February 28 of the following year in order to remain valid. Holders of a Student Shellfish license (if renewable) will be notified by November 1 and the license must be renewed by June 30 of the following year in order to remain valid.

2. All notices will be sent by regular mail to the mailing address given on the license or permit holders last license application or change of address form.

3. All applications for 65 and Over Shellfish, Commercial Fishing, Principal Effort, and Multi-Purpose Licenses, along with any and all applicable endorsements, whether renewals or new issues, must be made in person by 4:00 PM on February 28, or on the first business day following February 28 if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday or holiday. Applications for a Student Shellfish license, whether renewal or new issue, must be made in person by 4:00 PM on June 30, or on the first business day following June 30 if that day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. All license applications shall be made at the Department of Environmental Management, Office of Boat Registration and Licensing, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, 02908. Alternatively, applications must be posted to the same address with a postmark no later than the above-referenced deadline date. Alternatively, renewals must be made electronically, via the Department’s online renewal service at https://www.ri.gov/DEM/commercialmarine/, by midnight on the above-referenced deadline date. In order to be eligible to apply for a license, an application must be received, postmarked, or electronically filed by the above-referenced deadline date.

4. No 65 and Over Shellfish, Commercial Fishing, Principal Effort or Multi-Purpose License or applicable endorsement will be issued or renewed after the close of business on February 28, or on the first day following February 28 if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday or holiday, unless said license or endorsement was applied for consistent with the requirements of §§ 2.7.5(C)(3) or (5) of this Part, or §§ 2.7.5(E)(3) or 2.7.5(F) of this Part. No student shellfish license will be issued or renewed after the close of business on February 28, or on the first day following June 30 if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday or holiday, unless said license or endorsement was applied for consistent with the requirements of §§ 2.7.5(C)(3) or (5), or §§ 2.7.5(E)(3) or 2.7.5(F) of this Part.

5. With the exception of Student shellfish license applications, applications for renewal of licenses referenced in §§ 2.7.5(C)(3) and (4) of this Part above that are received by the Department or postmarked after February 28 or after the first day following February 28 if that day falls on a Saturday or Sunday or holiday shall be renewed only upon payment of a late fee in the amount of $200.00 and only during the sixty (60) day grace period commencing on the day immediately following the application deadline. Such renewal applications must be made in person at the Department of Environmental Management, Office of Boating Registration and Licensing, 235 Promenade Street, Providence, RI 02908; or via mail at the same address; or electronically via the Department’s online renewal service at www.ri.gov/DEM/commercialmarine.

D. Demonstration and verification of activity standards for the issuance of new licenses:

1. Actively Fishing:

a. To meet the standard of Actively Fishing, the license holder must have held the license for a minimum of the immediate two (2) preceding calendar years, and demonstrate by dated transaction records, as verified by SAFIS dealer or dockside sales reporting, a minimum of forty (40) legal RI landings in the preceding 2 calendar years, pursuant to a valid RI license.

(1) In cases where there are less than forty (40) legal RI landings, and one or more of those landings is associated with a multi-day trip(s), Vessel Trip Reports and days fished from those trip(s) may be used to meet the standard of Actively Fishing.

(2) In cases where dockside sales reports are being used to meet the standard of Actively Fishing, additional documentation may be required, including, but not limited to, the following: receipts pertaining to the sales of lobsters and/or crabs to consumers; income tax returns; trap tag orders; and receipts pertaining to purchases of fuel, bait, and other supplies.

(3) In cases where a person holds both a Landing Permit and a Commercial Fishing License concurrently issued by the Department, dated transaction records established in SAFIS which are recorded on a license holder’s Landing Permit may be considered for the demonstration or verification of the Activity Standard.

b. For the issuance of a license in accordance with § 2.7.5(E) of this Part, the Activity Standard established in § 2.7.5(D)(1)(a) of this Part must be met, in addition to one of the following conditional criteria, as applicable:

(1) Issuance of a new license upon sale of vessel and/or gear: Landings must have occurred in the previous two (2) calendar years, with landings occurring in one (1) or both of those calendar years.

(2) Issuance of a new license under a medical hardship condition: Landings must have occurred in at least two (2) consecutive calendar years from 2006 to the date of the license holder’s hardship.

(3) Issuance of a new license based on previous license activity: This section applies only to a Commercial Fishing License Quahaug endorsement, Student Shellfish license, and Over 65 Shellfish licenses. Persons are not eligible if cited for a violation of Rhode Island’s marine fisheries laws or regulations during the two-year period preceding the date of application.

(AA) Persons who possess a valid Student Shellfish or Over 65 Shellfish License as of the immediately preceding year are eligible to obtain a new Commercial Fishing License with a Quahaug endorsement for the immediate following year,

(BB) Persons who possess a valid Commercial Fishing License with Quahaug endorsement as of the immediate preceding year are eligible to obtain a new Principal Effort License with Quahaug endorsement for the immediate following year. For the purposes of this section, only quahaug landings may be used to meet the Activity Standard as specified in § 2.7.5(D)(1)(a) of this Part.

(4) Issuance of a new Whelk endorsement based on previous license activity: Persons who possess a valid Commercial Fishing or Principal Effort License with Quahaug or Soft-Shell Clam endorsement as of the immediately preceding year are eligible to obtain a new Whelk endorsement for the immediate following year. For the purposes of this section, only quahaug and/or soft-shell clam landings may be used to meet the Activity Standard as specified in § 2.7.5(D)(1)(a) of this Part.

2. Actively Participating: To meet the standard of Actively Participating, a crew must be able to demonstrate via one or more affidavits that they have worked as a paid crew for one or more captains licensed in the state of Rhode Island on a vessel that was commercially declared during the period of activity, that had a minimum of forty (40) legal RI landings in the immediately preceding two (2) calendar years. To be considered a paid crew, persons must demonstrate a valid record of being a paid employee of the vessel owner or person licensed to fish commercially, including either a W-2 form, 1099 form, or paycheck stub from a financial institution for the period of time being used to meet the standard of Actively Participating.

a. Affidavits must reflect activity conducted upon a vessel that was commercially declared during the period of activity.

3. A license holder with a dockside sales endorsement who sells all of his or her lobster and/or crab landings dockside may utilize documentation other than dated transaction records to demonstrate fishing activity. Such documentation shall include properly recorded and submitted logbooks, as well as some or all of the following: receipts pertaining to the sales of lobsters and/or crabs to consumers; income tax returns; trap tag orders; and receipts pertaining to purchases of fuel, bait, and other supplies. DEM shall determine whether the documentation submitted by the license holder substantiates the landings and associated fishing activity claimed by the license holder.

4. Any application submitted in accordance with this section that includes inadequate or improper documentation, such as insufficient number or type of transaction records, invalid transaction records, Vessel Trip Reports, or affidavits that have not been notarized, will not be considered. Fraudulent submittals will be referred to the Department’s Division of Law Enforcement for further investigation and possible enforcement action. Fraud on the part of any existing license holder, including a captain who signs an affidavit in support of a claim of crew member status that turns out to be false or inaccurate, may result in the suspension or revocation of the license held by the existing license holder pursuant to § 2.7.10 of this Part.

E. Issuance of new licenses; eligibility:

1. New licenses and endorsements shall be made available as of January 1 annually.

2. In cases where a limited number of new licenses or endorsements are to be issued, the Department will accept applications until the application deadline set forth under § 2.7.5(C) of this Part, and then issue said licenses or endorsements to eligible applicants by May 15. To ensure fairness in these cases, no new licenses or endorsements will be issued before the application deadline date.

3. License renewals:

a. No application for a license renewal will be accepted from a person who has failed to submit reports in a timely fashion and who has been previously notified regarding the deficiency.

b. Persons who possess a valid Commercial Fishing License as of the immediate preceding year are eligible to renew their license.

c. Persons who possess a valid Principal Effort License as of the immediate preceding year are eligible to renew their license for the immediate following year.

d. Residents who possess a valid Multi-Purpose License as of the immediate preceding year are eligible to renew their license for the immediate following year.

(1) Alternatively, residents who possess a valid Multi-Purpose License as of the immediate prior year may are eligible to obtain a new Principal Effort License with Quahaug, Soft-Shell Clam, Shellfish Other, Lobster, Non-Lobster Crustacean, Restricted Finfish, Non-Restricted Finfish, and/or Whelk endorsements for the immediate following year in place of a Multi-Purpose License. Prior to issuance of a new license, the currently held license must be surrendered.

e. Residents who possess a valid Student Shellfish License as of the immediate preceding year are eligible to renew their Student Shellfish License pursuant to § 2.7.6(E) of this Part for the immediate following year.

f. Residents who possess a valid 65 and Over Shellfish License as of the immediate preceding year are eligible to renew a 65 and Over Shellfish License for the immediate following year.

g. Applicants who obtained a Principal Effort License with Lobster endorsement in 2008, or any year thereafter, must continue to hold a Lobster Trap Allocation to be eligible for renewal.

4. Issuance of New Licenses for Family Members or Crew:

a. A family member or crew who qualifies as a priority applicant pursuant to §§ 2.7.5(G)(2) or (3) of this Part is eligible to obtain a Commercial Fishing License with applicable endorsement(s), or a Principal Effort License with a Restricted Finfish Endorsement, if they are a family member or crew of a license holder who has been actively fishing, and is not renewing their license.

b. The applicable endorsement(s) will be in the fishery sector(s) that was/were being actively fished by the current license holder. Prior to issuance of a new license, the currently held license must be surrendered to the Department.

c. One new license will be issued for each license surrendered.

5. Issuance of New Licenses upon Sale of Vessel and/or Gear:

a. Residents are eligible to obtain a new license involving the sale of vessel and/or gear if the license holder is actively fishing.

b. Prior to issuance of a new license, the currently held license must be surrendered to the Department. Upon application for a new license, the Department will then issue a new equivalent license to the purchaser.

c. The new license/endorsement(s) issued may be at a lower harvest and gear level than the license surrendered where necessary to accomplish the purposes of fisheries management plans.

d. New license applications made pursuant to this section are not subject to an application deadline.

e. New license fees shall be applicable at the time of application.

6. Issuance of New Licenses to Resident Family Members in cases of Incapacity:

a. Resident family members are eligible to obtain a new equivalent license in cases of incapacity.

b. Demonstration of the incapacity shall be required in the form of a death certificate, or a diagnosis and prognosis signed by a medical doctor (M.D. or O.D.).

c. Prior to issuance of the new license, the currently held license must be surrendered to the Department. Upon application, the Department will then issue a new license equivalent to the license currently held.

d. The family member shall be designated by the license holder, or, if the license holder is deceased, by mutual agreement among surviving family members. If a mutual agreement has not been reached, the administer or executor of the estate of the deceased license holder shall be eligible for a new equivalent license for not longer than two (2) years during the probating of the estate.

e. New license applications made pursuant to this section are not subject to an application deadline.

f. New license fees shall be applicable at the time of application.

7. Persons returning from active military service: Persons holding a valid license and/or landing permit when entering active service are eligible to obtain a new equivalent license and/or landing permit held at the time when entering active service, upon presentation of written creditable documentation, such as form DD214, demonstrating the continuity of active service since the license had previously been held.

F. Issuance of temporary operator permits to residents in cases of medical hardship:

1. Residents are eligible to obtain an operator permit in cases of medical hardship; such resident shall be designated by the current license holder.

2. Demonstration of the medical hardship shall be required in the form of a diagnosis and prognosis signed by a medical doctor (M.D. or O.D.).

3. Prior to issuance of the operator permit, the currently held license must be surrendered to the Department and will be temporarily suspended. Upon application for the operator permit, the Department will then issue an operator permit equivalent to the license held, which will remain valid for the balance of the license year, or until the return to wellness of the incapacitated license holder, whichever occurs first. The operator permit will be eligible for renewal once, at a cost equivalent to the cost of the license, upon approval by the Director. Upon the return to wellness of the incapacitated license holder and application for re-instatement of the license, the license will be re-instated upon surrendering the operator permit.

4. New license applications made pursuant to this section are not subject to an application deadline.

G. Prioritization for the issuance of new licenses and endorsements:

1. In cases where only a limited number of new licenses or endorsements are to be issued, the Department shall provide priority to applicants as described herein. All eligible applicants in each priority category will be issued licenses or endorsements before any licenses or endorsements are issued to applicants in the next lower priority category. If in any priority category there are more eligible applicants than there are licenses or endorsements available for issue, those licenses or endorsements will be issued by lottery, unless otherwise specified herein.

2. First priority: First priority in the issuance of new licenses with applicable endorsement(s) shall be given to:

a. Licensed resident persons holding Commercial Fishing Licenses, endorsed in the same fishery sector for which a new license/ endorsement is being sought, who have been actively fishing that endorsement,

b. Licensed resident persons holding Principal Effort Licenses who have been actively fishing their license, and

c. Resident crew members who have been actively participating in the same fishery sector for which a new license/endorsement is being sought.

d. One-third of the total number of new licenses with applicable endorsements will be made available to each of the three priority categories. If, in any of the categories, there are fewer eligible applicants than there are licenses/endorsements available for issue, then the balance will be evenly distributed to the other two categories. Within each category, eligible applicants will be prioritized based on the length of time, in years, they have been actively fishing their license, or actively participating in the fishery as a crew member, on a continuing basis. If the selection of qualified applicants cannot be resolved equitably by the initial prioritization and lottery process, and if the number of remaining endorsements cannot be distributed evenly between the remaining categories, the number of remaining endorsements will be rounded up to provide each remaining category with the necessary endorsement(s) required to complete the selection process.

3. Second priority: Second priority in the issuance of new licenses with applicable endorsement(s) shall be given to:

a. Licensed resident fishers holding Commercial Fishing Licenses, endorsed in any fishery sector, who have been actively fishing their license and

b. Resident crew members who have been actively participating in any fishery sector.

c. One-half of the total number of new licenses with applicable endorsements will be made available to each of the two categories. If, in any of the categories, there are fewer eligible applicants than there are licenses/endorsements available, then the balance will be distributed to the other category. Within each category, eligible applicants will be prioritized based on the length of time, in years, they have been actively fishing their license, or actively participating as a crew member, on a continuing basis. If the selection of qualified applicants cannot be resolved equitably by the initial prioritization and lottery process, and if the number of remaining endorsements cannot be distributed evenly between the remaining categories, the number of remaining endorsements will be rounded up to provide each remaining category with the necessary endorsement(s) required to complete the selection process.

4. Third priority: Third priority in the issuance of new licenses with applicable endorsement(s) shall be given to any resident, aged eighteen (18) or older.

5. Fourth priority: Fourth priority in the issuance of new licenses with applicable (i.e., restricted finfish) endorsement shall be given to any non-resident, aged eighteen (18) or older.

H. Appeals of license denials due to medical hardship:

1. There shall be no right to appeal to the Department of Environmental Management's Administrative Adjudication Division (AAD) for the rejection of any new license applications submitted after February 28, or any license renewal applications submitted after the sixty (60) day grace period, except in the case of a documented medical hardship as defined herein.

2. The applicant may appeal the denial to the Administrative Adjudication Division for Environmental Matters pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-17.7-1 et seq. and the procedures set forth in Part 10-00-1 of this Title, Rules and Regulations for the Administrative Adjudication Division.

3. The burden of proof shall be on the applicant to demonstrate that he or she meets the criteria for issuance of a license. Such proof shall include written documentation of a diagnosis and prognosis of the medical hardship of the license holder signed by a medical doctor (M.D. or O.D.).

2.7.6 Licenses, Endorsements and Vessel Declarations; Resident:

A. Fishery Endorsements: Any Commercial Fishing or Principal Effort License issued to a Rhode Island resident pursuant to these regulations may, upon demonstration of eligibility by the applicant, be endorsed to allow participation in the following fishery sectors:

1. Non-Lobster Crustacean;

2. Lobster;

3. Quahaug;

4. Soft-shell clam;

5. Shellfish Other;

6. Non-Restricted Finfish;

7. Restricted Finfish;

8. Whelk

B. Commercial Fishing License:

1. Applicants must provide proof of Rhode Island residency and pay an annual fee of fifty dollars ($50), plus twenty-five dollars ($25) per fishery endorsement.

2. The holder of a Commercial Fishing License may participate in any fishery sector for which he/she holds an endorsement.

C. Principal Effort License:

1. Eligible applicants must present proof of Rhode Island residency and pay an annual fee of one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) which entitles them to fish in a single fishery endorsement category.

2. The holder of a Principal Effort License may participate in any fishery sector for which he/she holds a fishery endorsement.

3. The holder of a Principal Effort License may also obtain a Commercial Fishing License with applicable endorsements to fish other sectors, and/or obtain additional fishery endorsements on his or her Principal Effort License to fish other sectors, if such endorsements are available for any given license year; provided that a license holder may not hold both a Principal Effort and Commercial Fishing License in the same fishery sector. The annual fee for additional fishery endorsements on Principal Effort Licenses is seventy-five dollars ($75) each.

4. The holder of a Commercial Fishing License or a Principal Effort License with a Quahaug endorsement shall not be required to pay the annual fee for that license if the license holder is at least sixty-five (65) years old as of February 28 of the applicable license year. The license holder is still required to pay the fee for the “Non-Lobster Crustacean”, “Lobster”, “Non-Restricted Finfish”, “Restricted Finfish”, as well as all additional "Gear", "Dockside Sales", "Logbook" endorsements on their Commercial Fishing License or Principal Effort License.

D. Multi-Purpose License:

1. Eligible applicants must present proof of Rhode Island residency and pay an annual fee of three hundred dollars ($300).

2. The holder of a Multi-Purpose License may participate in all fishery endorsement sectors.

E. Student Shellfish License:

1. Applicants must present proof of Rhode Island residency and pay an annual fee of fifty dollars ($50).

2. Applicants must be no older than twenty-three (23) years as of June 30 of the license year.

3. Applicants must present proof that they are full-time students in the form of a notarized letter or transcript from the learning institution in which they are enrolled.

4. The holder of a Student Shellfish License may participate in the Quahaug endorsement sector.

5. The holder of a Student Shellfish License may also obtain a Commercial Fishing License and/or a Principal Effort License, with endorsements, if such licenses or endorsements are available for any given license year; provided that the holder of a Student Shellfish License may not also hold a Commercial Fishing or Principal Effort License with a quahaug endorsement.

F. 65 and Over Shellfish License:

1. Applicants must present proof of Rhode Island residency.

2. There is no fee.

3. Applicants must be at least sixty-five (65) years old as of February 28 of the license year.

4. The holder of a 65 and Over Shellfish License may participate in the Quahaug endorsement sector.

5. The holder of a 65 and Over Shellfish License may also obtain a Commercial Fishing License and/or a Principal Effort License, with endorsements, to fish other fishery sectors, if such licenses or endorsements are available and the application requirements are met for any given license year; provided that the holder of a 65 and Over Shellfish License may not also hold a Commercial Fishing or Principal Effort License with a quahaug endorsement.

G. Gear Endorsements:

1. Gear endorsement categories shall include Fish Trap, Gill Net, Purse Seine, and Mid Water/Pair Trawl.

2. The Fish Trap gear endorsement shall allow the license holder to set one or more fish traps in accordance with all applicable requirements of R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 20-5. The annual fee shall be twenty dollars ($20) per trap location for a three-year period. Applicants who possessed a valid Fish Trap gear endorsement as of the immediately preceding year may obtain a Fish Trap endorsement for the immediately following year, subject to the same terms and conditions in effect as the immediately preceding year. New fish trap endorsement opportunities shall be established by rule, pursuant to fisheries management plans.

3. The Gill Net gear endorsement shall allow the license holder to set a gill net in accordance with all applicable regulations. The annual fee shall be twenty dollars ($20). Applicants who possessed a Gill Net gear endorsement as of the immediately preceding year may obtain a Gill Net endorsement for the immediately following year. New gill net endorsement opportunities shall be established by rule, pursuant to fisheries management plans.

4. The Purse Seine and Mid Water/Pair Trawl gear endorsements shall allow the license holder to set these gear types in accordance with all applicable regulations. The holders of Purse Seine and/or Mid Water/Pair Trawl gear endorsements must consent to carry an observer on the vessel and/or on any spotter plane used as part of the operation, per the request of DEM; must report any/all landings of menhaden on a daily basis to the Division of Marine Fisheries; must report beginning, location, and cessation of fishing activities on a daily basis to the Division of Enforcement; and must obtain and have on board charts showing the known locations of fixed-gear clusters, as provided by the Division of Marine Fisheries. The annual fee for each endorsement shall be twenty dollars ($20). New Purse Seine or Mid Water/Pair Trawl endorsement opportunities shall be established by rule, pursuant to fisheries management plans.

5. By rule, the Department may add, eliminate, or modify gear endorsement categories; in so doing, the Department will consider the status of each fishery, levels of participation by existing license holders, the impact of the gear type on fishing mortality, and the provisions of fisheries management plans and programs.

H. Vessel Declaration:

1. Every vessel employed in the commercial fishery must be declared with the Department at the time the owner/operator of such a vessel first applies for or subsequently renews his/her fishing license; or if a license has already been issued, prior to that vessel being used for commercial fishing.

2. Each such vessel must be individually and separately declared, on an annual basis, and the required fee paid.

3. The vessel declaration will include the name of the vessel and its owner, its length and horsepower, displacement, registration and/or federal permit number, gear type(s), principal fishery(s), and number of crew.

4. The annual fee for a vessel declaration is twenty-five dollars ($25) per vessel for vessels up to and including twenty-five (25) feet in length, plus fifty cents (50¢) per linear foot for each whole foot over twenty-five (25) feet.

5. A declared vessel will be issued decals, which must be prominently displayed on the port and starboard bow, or on the port and starboard sides of the console cabin or wheelhouse, or elsewhere on the port and starboard sides of the vessel such that they are readily viewable. The displayed decals must be updated annually.

6. Declared vessels that are less than twenty-five (25) feet long may obtain a vessel declaration plate upon payment of an additional annual fee of fifteen dollars ($15). The vessel declaration of the declared vessel may be temporarily transferred to another vessel less than twenty-five (25) feet long by affixing the aforementioned plate to that vessel. For purposes of this section, "temporary" shall mean not more than sixty (60) days, with one sixty (60) day extension in any given year by permission of the Department.

I. Dockside Sales Endorsement:

1. The endorsement shall enable the holder to sell live lobsters and crabs directly to consumers at dockside. Only live lobsters and crabs may be sold under the endorsement. Sales of shellfish and finfish to anyone other than licensed dealers are prohibited.

2. The endorsement shall be available to all Rhode Island license and landing permit holders who are authorized to harvest and land for sale lobsters and/or crabs. With regard to lobsters, such licenses and permits shall include: multi-purpose license, principal effort license with lobster endorsement, commercial fishing license with lobster endorsement; and resident and non-resident landing permit. With regard to crabs, such licenses and permits shall include: multi-purpose license; principal effort license with non-lobster crustacean endorsement; commercial fishing license with non-lobster crustacean endorsement; and resident and non-resident landing permit.

3. The purchase of a dockside sales endorsement will ensure that the licensee/permittee receives a paper dockside sales logbook.

4. A licensee/permittee who declared their reporting method as a federal vessel trip report is required to report all dockside sales via the paper dockside sales logbook.

5. Individuals selling lobsters and crabs under the dockside sales endorsement must at all times possess, and display upon request, a current and proper license or landing permit, as set forth above; and said license or permit must include a dockside sales endorsement.

6. Only the licensee/permittee, or a regularly employed crew member of the licensee/permittee, may sell lobsters and crabs at dockside under the dockside sales endorsement. To be eligible to conduct such sales, a crew member must first receive written authorization from the licensee/permittee. Such authorization shall be in the form of a type-written statement, signed and dated by the licensee/permittee that expressly authorizes the crew member to act on behalf of the licensee/permittee with regard to dockside sales. The statement shall further specify: the name of the crew member, the name of the vessel from which the sales are conducted, and the month and year that the crew member began working on the vessel. The statement shall be kept on the vessel and be available at all times for inspection by Department personnel. A crew member who is acting on behalf of a licensee/permittee in accordance with this subsection must comply with all applicable regulations governing dockside sales, as set forth herein, and the licensee/permittee shall be responsible for any violations of regulations by the crew member.

7. Licensees/permittees offering live lobsters and crabs for sale at dockside must meet all applicable and current Federal and State laws and regulations governing harvest and possession relating to the species being sold.

8. Licensees/permittees offering live lobsters and crabs for sale at dockside must meet all applicable and current Federal, State, and local laws and regulations governing retail sales operations, including but not necessarily limited to those governing taxation, signage, noise, and hours of operation.

9. Licensees/permittees offering live lobsters and crabs for sale at dockside may only sell live lobsters and crabs that they harvested, and all sales must be made from the vessel that harvested the product, unless otherwise authorized by the Director.

10. Sales at dockside may only be to the final consumer – i.e. the individual(s) who will be consuming the product - and no resale of, or commercial transaction involving, the product beyond the final consumer is allowed.

11. Licensees shall include, on all landing reports and other data submitted to the National Marine Fisheries Service and/or the Department, the lobsters and crabs offered for sale at dockside to the general public.

12. The annual fee for the dockside sales endorsement shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

13. The dockside sales endorsement is not subject to the application deadline provisions as set forth in § 2.6.7(C) of this Part; as such, the endorsement shall be available at any time during the year to holders of current and proper commercial fishing licenses and landing permits issued by the Department.

14. All dockside sales reports and reports of no sales activity are due to the Division of Marine Fisheries quarterly.

J. Research Set Aside (RSA) Endorsement:

1. The RSA endorsement shall enable the holder to land marine species, for sale, in Rhode Island, in accordance with RSA quota obtained from the National Marine Fisheries Service.

2. The endorsement shall be automatically available to anyone who obtains an Exempted Fishing Permit from the Department, allowing for the harvest and/or landing of RSA quota in Rhode Island.

3. Both the endorsement and the permit must be obtained prior to the landing of any RSA quota for state quota monitored species in Rhode Island.

4. Upon presentation of an approved and valid Exempted Fishing Permit from the Department, an RSA endorsement will be issued.

5. The annual fee for the issuance of an RSA endorsement for state quota monitored species shall be twenty-five dollars ($25).

6. The RSA endorsement is not subject to the application deadline provisions as set forth in § 2.6.7(C) of this Part; as such, the endorsement shall be available at any time during the year to holders of current and proper commercial fishing licenses, and Exempted Fishing Permits, issued by the Department.

K. Paper catch and effort harvester logbook endorsement:

1. The Paper Catch and Effort Harvester logbook endorsement shall authorize the license holder to use a paper harvester catch and effort logbook in lieu of electronic reporting to report catch and effort information. Paper Catch and Effort Harvester logbooks are issued by the Director.

2. If declared as the reporting method, the Paper Catch and Effort Harvester logbook endorsement fee must be paid at the time of application.

3. Paper Catch and Effort Harvester logbook submissions will not be accepted from a license holder who does not hold the endorsement.

4. Annual fee: Twenty-five dollars ($25).

2.7.7 Licenses, Endorsements and Vessel Declarations; Non-Resident:

A. Non-Resident Fishery Endorsements: Any Commercial Fishing or Principal Effort License issued to a non-resident pursuant to these regulations may, upon demonstration of eligibility by the applicant, be endorsed to allow participation in the following fishery sectors:

1. Non-Restricted Finfish;

2. Restricted Finfish.

B. Non-Resident Commercial Fishing License:

1. Applicants must be at least eighteen (18) years old.

2. The holder of a Non-Resident Commercial Fishing License may participate in either or both fishery sectors for which he/she holds an endorsement, provided that his/her state of residence does not prohibit commercial licensing opportunities for Rhode Island residents in finfish fisheries for which licensing opportunities are available for residents of that state.

3. The Division of Marine Fisheries shall annually review the regulations of the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York to determine whether those states provide Rhode Island residents the privileges referenced in § 2.7.7(B)(2) of this Part. For applicants from any other state, it shall be the applicant's burden to prove that his/her state of residence provides Rhode Island residents the privileges referenced in § 2.7.7(B)(2) of this Part through a certified copy of the relevant regulation. This copy is to be forwarded to the Division of Marine Fisheries for review and approval a minimum of two weeks before a license may be issued.

4. The annual fee for a Non-Resident Commercial Fishing License shall be one hundred and fifty dollars ($150) plus fifty dollars ($50) per endorsement.

C. Non-Resident Principal Effort License:

1. Eligible applicants must demonstrate that their state of residence complies with § 2.7.7(B)(2) of this Part regarding treatment of Rhode Island residents.

2. The holder of a Non-Resident Principal Effort License may harvest, land and sell any species of fish for which he/she holds the appropriate endorsement(s) - Restricted and/or Non-Restricted Finfish.

3. The annual fee for a Non-Resident Principal Effort License shall be four hundred dollars ($400), plus one hundred dollars ($100) per endorsement.

D. Non-Resident Vessel Declaration:

1. Applicants must comply with the requirements of § 2.7.6(H) of this Part, provided that temporary transfers of vessel declarations between vessels less than twenty-five (25) feet in length via vessel declaration plates are not permitted.

2. The fee for a Non-Resident Vessel Declaration shall be fifty dollars ($50), plus one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) for each whole foot over twenty-five (25) feet in length overall.

2.7.8 Landing Permits:

A. General Requirements:

1. A Landing Permit or a valid Rhode Island Resident or Non-Resident Licenses with the appropriate fishery endorsements, but not both a permit and license, is required to off-load any seafood product legally harvested outside of Rhode Island waters for sale or intended sale in Rhode Island, or to secure a vessel with the seafood products on board to a shoreside facility where the products may be offloaded for sale or intended sale.

2. If the operator of a vessel carrying seafood products notifies the Department's Division of Law Enforcement at least four hours before entering Rhode Island waters that he/she intends to dock in a Rhode Island port for specified purposes other than landing, selling, or offering that seafood for sale, and if permission to do so is first obtained from the Division of Law Enforcement, no landing permit or Rhode Island license is required.

3. The Department will issue a Landing Permit upon proof that an applicant holds a valid federal or non-Rhode Island State license or permit(s) to harvest a given species or group of similar species, provided that the Landing Permit so issued will only allow the landing of those species authorized by said federal or state permit.

4. A Landing Permit is issued to an individual and not a vessel, although the vessel(s), which will generate the landings, must be identified. The landing permit may not be transferred and does not attach to a vessel when it is sold.

5. The individual in charge of a vessel subject to this section must be in possession of a Landing Permit issued to that individual in order for that vessel to legally enter Rhode Island waters.

6. Landing permits are not subject to the application deadline provisions set forth under § 2.7.5(C) of this Part.

B. Resident landing permit:

1. The holder of a Resident Landing Permit may land, sell, or offer for sale any marine fishery species or product, in accordance with all applicable Rules and Regulations governing those species.

2. The annual fee for a Resident Landing Permit is two hundred dollars ($200).

C. Non-resident landing permit with restricted finfish:

1. The holder of a Non-Resident Landing Permit with Restricted Finfish may land, sell, or offer for sale any marine fishery species or product including restricted finfish species, in accordance with all applicable Rules and Regulations governing those species.

2. The annual fee for Non-Resident Landing Permit with Restricted Finfish is four hundred dollars ($400).

3. New Non-Resident Landing Permit with Restricted Finfish will only be issued if the landing is charged to the quota of the state in which the vessel making the landing is registered or documented; or, if the state where the vessel making the landing is registered or documented allows Rhode Island residents to land against its quota for that species; or, if the Department pursuant to a fisheries management plan determines there to be excess harvesting capacity in the Rhode Island commercial quota for that species.

4. Renewal of Non-Resident Landing Permit with Restricted Finfish are considered to be new permits subject to the provisions of § 2.7.8(C)(3) of this Part unless the applicant can show evidence of Rhode Island landings of more than one thousand pounds of that species per year in four of the five years preceding the application. Having made that demonstration, a holder of a Non-Resident Landing Permit with Restricted Finfish who held that permit as of the immediately preceding year may renew it for the immediately following year as set forth herein.

5. If a non-resident vessel is upgraded by twenty percent (20%) or more in length, displacement or horsepower, renewal of a Non-Resident Landing Permit with Restricted Finfish will be considered a new permit application, issuance of which is subject to the requirements of § 2.7.8(C)(3) of this Part.

D. Non-resident landing permit:

1. The holder of a Non-Resident Landing Permit may land, sell, or offer for sale any marine fishery species or product, except restricted finfish, in accordance with all applicable Rules and Regulations governing those species and products.

2. The annual fee for a Non-Resident Landing Permit is four hundred dollars ($400).

2.7.9 Dealer's Licenses:

A. General requirements:

1. No person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation shall sell, purchase, barter or trade in any marine fisheries species unless having first obtained a dealer's license as provided for in this section for the applicable fishery; or unless the activity is exempt from licensing requirements as set forth in § 2.7.9(A)(2) of this Part.

2. Any person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation engaged solely in the business of selling seafood to consumers, either directly or through restaurants or other retail outlets, and/or engaged solely in the processing or preparation of seafood for sale directly to consumers, is not required to be licensed under these regulations, provided that such person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation purchases or otherwise acquires said seafood from licensed dealers.

3. Applicants for a dealer's license shall complete such forms containing such information as the Department may require.

4. Applicants for a dealer's license must demonstrate that they or their registered agent maintain a fixed place of business in the State of Rhode Island at which transaction records will be maintained and made available for inspection during normal business hours.

5. Each license is valid for the calendar year in which it is issued upon payment of the required fee.

6. A duly licensed dealer may transport any marine species otherwise subject to the requirement that a person transporting such species carry a Rhode Island commercial fishing license, so long as that dealer can demonstrate by a bill of lading that the fish in question had been sold by a duly licensed person.

B. Multi-purpose dealer's license:

1. The holder of a Multi-Purpose Dealer's License may buy and sell all wild marine fisheries species that may legally be landed in Rhode Island, but only in the amounts specified by rule. Licensed multi-purpose dealers may also buy and sell cultured marine fisheries species in accordance with applicable Rules and Regulations.

2. The annual fee is three hundred dollars ($300).

C. Finfish dealer's license:

1. The holder of a Finfish Dealer's License may buy and sell all wild finfish species that may legally be landed in Rhode Island, but only in the amounts specified by rule. Licensed finfish dealers may also buy and sell cultured finfish species in accordance with applicable Rules and Regulations.

2. The annual fee is two hundred dollars ($200).

D. Shellfish dealer's license:

1. The holder of a Shellfish Dealer's License may buy and sell all wild shellfish species that may legally be landed in Rhode Island, but only in the amounts specified by rule. Licensed shellfish dealers may also buy and sell cultured shellfish species in accordance with applicable Rules and Regulations.

2. The annual fee is two hundred dollars ($200).

E. Lobster dealer's license:

1. The holder of a Lobster Dealer's License may buy and sell all wild crustacean species, including lobster, that may legally be landed in Rhode Island, but only in the amounts specified by rule. Licensed lobster dealers may also sell cultured crustacean species in accordance with applicable Rules and Regulations.

2. The annual fee is two hundred dollars ($200).

2.7.10 Penalties:

A. Violations:

1. Violations of these regulations may subject the violator to the revocation or suspension of any license, endorsement or permit issued pursuant thereto.

2. Revocations or suspensions may be appealed to the Administrative Adjudication Division.

B. False statements:

1. Any person who willfully misrepresents any fact or facts required to be provided in support of any license, endorsement, or permit application provided for herein, or who is party to such willful misrepresentation, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50).

2. Any license, endorsement, or permit obtained as a result of such false statements or misrepresentations shall be null and void and shall be surrendered to the Department forthwith.

3. No new license, endorsement, or permit may be issued to any violator of this section for a period of one (1) year from the date that penalties are imposed.

C. Alterations, forgeries and counterfeits:

1. Any person who falsely makes, alters, forges, or counterfeits, or who causes to be falsely made, altered, forged or counterfeited, a license, endorsement, or permit issued pursuant to these regulations, or who shall have in his or her possession such a license, endorsement, or permit, knowing it to be false, altered, forged or counterfeit is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) and imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both.

2. No new license endorsement or permit may be issued to any violator of this section for a period of one (1) year from the date that penalties are imposed.

D. Failure to possess, present or display a proper license, permit or vessel declaration:

1. Any person who fails to possess a valid, properly endorsed license, permit, or vessel declaration while engaged in commercial fishing, or fails or refuses to present or display said license, permit or endorsement upon request by individuals authorized by the Director, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a fine of not more then five hundred dollars ($500) and imprisonment for not more than ninety (90) days, or both. Any such person may also be subject to the seizure and forfeiture provisions under R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 20-1-8 and 20-1-8.1.

2.8.1 General Provisions:

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to fish or spearfish recreationally for finfish or squid in the marine waters of Rhode Island without a valid and current recreational saltwater fishing license.

B. For the purpose of this section, an individual will be considered to be fishing or spearfishing recreationally if they are engaged in the process of angling via the use of any type of hook and line, or spearfishing via the use of any type of spear or powerhead, or if they possess equipment used for angling or spearfishing and are in possession of finfish or squid.

C. A valid and current recreational saltwater fishing license may include: a RI recreational saltwater fishing license, a recreational saltwater fishing license from a reciprocal state, or a national saltwater angler registration.

D. Reciprocal states are listed at saltwater.ri.gov.

E. Anglers and spearfishers must be in possession of, or within close proximity to, their license at all times while engaged in angling or spearfishing. The term close proximity shall be construed to mean aboard a vessel, on which or from which an individual is angling or spearfishing; or, for shore-based anglers, or spearfishers, within a nearby car or other location that is within walking distance from the point of exit from the water.

F. Anglers and spearfishers shall present a valid and current recreational saltwater fishing license for inspection upon demand by an authorized law enforcement officer.

G. Failure to meet the terms of this section shall be deemed a violation, subject to the penalties set forth under R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2.2-8.

2.8.2 Exemptions:

A. No license is required for: anglers or spearfishers who are under 16 years of age; anglers or spearfishers on party or charter vessels that are licensed in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2-27.1; licensed party or charter vessel operators when fishing in party/charter mode; anglers or spearfishers who are on leave from active military duty; anglers or spearfishers who are blind or permanently disabled; anglers or spearfishers who hold federal Highly Migratory Species Angling Permits, issued under their name of the angler or spearfisher; anglers or spearfishers who are fishing or spearfishing during a free-fishing day, designated by the Director; or anyone who is fishing commercially in accordance with a current and valid commercial fishing license.

B. Where appropriate, anglers or spearfishers who are exempt shall carry applicable proof, and present such proof, along with a photo ID, upon demand by an authorized law enforcement officer.

2.9.1 Recreational mode:

A. Any vessel, including a commercially declared and/or licensed party/charter vessel, may operate in recreational mode, in accordance with all applicable recreational regulations.

B. With regard to all species that are not subject to per-vessel restrictions, compliance with possession limits while fishing in recreational mode 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.

C. If a vessel makes more than one trip in recreational mode per day, the catches attributable to the same licensed or exempt fishers or spearfishers who go out again are cumulative.

2.9.2 Party/Charter Vessels:

A. Only vessels licensed in accordance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2-27.1 may operate in party/charter mode.

B. A vessel is operating in party/charter mode whenever the vessel is carrying one or more passengers for hire for the purpose of engaging in recreational fishing or spearfishing.

C. Unless otherwise specified, vessels operating in party/charter mode must adhere to recreational regulations.

D. With regard to all species that are not subject to per-vessel restrictions, compliance for vessels operating in party/charter mode shall be determined by dividing the total number of fish aboard the vessel by the total number of anglers or spearfishers aboard the vessel.

E. If a vessel makes more than one trip in party/charter mode per day, any marine species possessed by the captain and mate are cumulative.

F. Reporting:

1. All trips made in party/charter mode shall be documented and submitted electronically in SAFIS.

2. All trips shall be documented on board the vessel upon landing.

3. All trip reports shall be submitted electronically within forty-eight (48) hours of the end of the trip.

4. In cases when no party/charter mode trips were made, at least one negative report must be submitted to the Department prior to renewal of license.

2.9.3 Commercial mode:

A. Only vessels that are commercially declared may operate in commercial mode.

B. A vessel is operating in commercial mode whenever the vessel is engaged in the process of taking, harvesting, holding, transporting, loading or off-loading marine species for sale or intended sale.

C. Vessels operating in commercial mode must adhere to all applicable commercial regulations.

D. Vessels making more than one commercial trip per calendar day are bound by all applicable per-vessel, per-day possession limits.

E. Vessels making more than one commercial trip per calendar day must have onboard a RI catch and effort logbook or a federal VTR, and the logbooks or VTRs must be completed prior to the initiation of the second commercial or recreational fishing trip on the same day. An exemption from carrying the RI 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 commercial or recreational fishing trip must be entered prior to the initiation of the second commercial or recreational fishing trip on the same day.

F. A commercially declared vessel, operating in commercial mode, 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.

G. 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.

H. 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.

2.9.4 Vessels Fishing in More Than One Mode:

A. On a per-trip basis, a vessel may only operate in recreational mode, or party/charter mode, or commercial mode. No vessel may fish in more than one mode during the same trip.

B. A vessel that is commercially declared, pursuant to § 2.7.8(H) of this Part herein, may operate in commercial mode during one portion of a calendar day and fish in recreational or party/charter mode during a separate trip on the same day, subject to separate and non-overlapping commercial and recreational, or party/charter, regulations. A vessel that operates first commercially must complete their logbook prior to the initiation of the second trip.

C. Upon boarding or inspection, the captain or operator of a commercially declared vessel must disclose whether the vessel is operating in commercial mode or party/charter mode or recreational mode.