RHODE ISLAND MARINE FISHERIES STATUTES AND REGULATIONS - Part XV - Lobsters, Other Crustaceans, and Horseshoe Crabs
250-1851 INACTIVE RULE EMERGENCY RULE
| Title | 250 | Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management |
| Chapter | XXX | Old Regulations Which Were Not Assigned Chapter-Subchap-Part |
| Subchapter | XX | Old Regulations Which Were Not Assigned Chapter-Subchap-Part |
| Part | 1851 | RHODE ISLAND MARINE FISHERIES STATUTES AND REGULATIONS - Part XV - Lobsters, Other Crustaceans, and Horseshoe Crabs |
| Type of Filing | Amendment |
| Regulation Status | Inactive |
| Effective | 09/12/2006 to 04/10/2007 |
Regulation Authority:
Chapters 42-17.1, 42-17.6, and 20-4 through 20-10, and sections 20-1-2, 20-1-4, and 20-3-2 through 20-3-6, in accordance with Chapter 42-35, of the Rhode Island General Laws of 1956, as amended.
Purpose and Reason:
The purpose of this filing is to alter the definition of v-notch in order to protect v-notched female lobsters for a longer duration of time.
Brief statement of Reason for Finding Imminent Peril:
The North Cape restoration program has concluded with no new v-notching to take place and with molting of previously marked lobsters healing old notches (thereby permitting the legal taking of partially healed notches under our current definition of the protected class), the beneficial impact of the program will be reduced. The most recent stock assessment indicates that fishing pressure removes about 50% of the legal lobster per year in our area. Thus, it is estimated that it will only take a couple of years to deplete the pool of formerly protected females along with their potential egg production to low levels. Given that some resource recovery is still required and given that industry will have to endure more restrictive measures until the stock levels are completely recovered, it would be unwise to challenge the resource with a setback at this time. Therefore, Rhode Island has drafted regulations to expand the definition of the v-notch affording protection to the previously identified females in order to preserve and expand the benefit of the recently lapsed program.
