From
the RI Dept of Environmental Management
PROVIDENCE
- The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has issued a new
guidance document that synthesizes the priority interests of the State with
regard to the conservation and management of marine fisheries. The
report, Principles & Policies Governing Marine Fisheries Management in Rhode Island, was developed primarily to
guide and support DEM's programs and activities pertaining to marine fisheries,
but also broadly addresses all key issues associated with marine fisheries
management in Rhode Island. This is the first document of its kind issued by
DEM.
The impetus for this document emerged over the course of DEM Director Janet Coit's first two years as Director, as she discussed and reviewed various fishery management issues with staff, fishermen, and other stakeholders. Sensing the need for a set of guiding principles and policies that would help to identify and galvanize DEM's collective efforts related to marine fisheries, Director Coit and her staff undertook the development of a single, unifying vision that captures the breadth of the Department's roles and responsibilities regarding marine fisheries management.
"Rhode
Island's fisheries and other living marine resources are among our most
valuable natural assets and an important part of the heritage and culture of
the Ocean State," said DEM Director Janet Coit. "Our fisheries continue
to sustain us, as a source of food, recreation, and employment, and warrant our
continued strong support, sound stewardship, and commitment to improve
management and to ensure healthy sustainable resources."
Based
on the premise that marine fishery resources are public trust resources subject
to state and federal stewardship, the document sets forth general guiding
principles and policies that address the need to rebuild depleted stocks,
restore degraded habitats and use sound science to assess stock status and
establish sustainable harvest levels. The document also touches upon policies
related to the use of the State's marine fishery resources by recreational and
commercial fishermen, seafood consumers, and the fishing and seafood
industries, and addresses key concepts associated with the sound governance of
the State's marine fishery resources.
"With
the assistance of staff, I have developed this document as a building block to
help secure and grow our interests in healthy and productive marine fisheries,"
Director Coit noted. "I view the document as one that can and should
evolve over time, as we continue to evaluate and clarify our priorities via
discussions with stakeholders and interactions with the General Assembly. I
welcome feedback on the document, and look forward to maintaining an open
dialogue with, and continuing to support the interests of, the many Rhode
Islanders who eat, catch, benefit from, and care about our marine fishery
resources."
The
document and an accompanying cover letter are available on DEM's website (click here).
The report was initially released at a February 27th hearing of the Rhode Island Senate's Special Task Force on Fisheries. DEM Director Coit and her staff testified at the hearing on Current Trends and Recent Highlights Pertaining to the RI Fishing Industry. Among the points made was the value of the commercial fishery industry to Rhode Island, totaling more than $22 million in state tax revenue and supporting 4,968 jobs. The power point presentation that accompanied DEM's testimony is available on DEM's website by clicking here.
The report was initially released at a February 27th hearing of the Rhode Island Senate's Special Task Force on Fisheries. DEM Director Coit and her staff testified at the hearing on Current Trends and Recent Highlights Pertaining to the RI Fishing Industry. Among the points made was the value of the commercial fishery industry to Rhode Island, totaling more than $22 million in state tax revenue and supporting 4,968 jobs. The power point presentation that accompanied DEM's testimony is available on DEM's website by clicking here.