Yearly Regulation Amendments

Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Regulations
Minimum Sizes and Possession Limits

If you have questions, contact Pete Duhamel at 401-423-1927 or peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov

12/16/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the commercial Cobia fishery will CLOSE, until the fishery re-opens 12:00AM on January 1, 2025 at two (2) fish per day.

12/13/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, the commercial Black Sea Bass fishery will CLOSE, until further notice.

11/27/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Saturday, November 30, 2024, the commercial possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be fifty (50) pounds per day, until further notice.

11/27/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, December 2, 2024, the commercial Summer Flounder fishery will close until further notice.

11/19/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Thursday, November 21, 2024, the possession limit for Summer Flounder for vessels with a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will be fifty (50) pounds per vessel per day until further notice; the possession limit for vessels without a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will also be fifty (50) pounds per vessel per day until further notice.

11/13/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Saturday, November 16, 2024, the commercial Bluefish possession limit will remain at ten thousand (10,000) pounds per week, until further notice.  

11/8/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the commercial Tautog fishery will close, until further notice.  
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, November 10, 2024 the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass will CLOSE for Black Sea Bass, due to 85% of the sub-period quota having been reached. 
  3. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, November 10, 2024, the possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be one hundred (100) pounds per day until further notice.  

11/1/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, November 4, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category fishery will re-open at five (5) fish per day, until further notice.  The fishery is closed Thursday – Sunday weekly.
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, November 3, 2024 the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass will CLOSE for Summer Flounder ONLY, due to 85% of the sub-period quota having been reached.  Summer Flounder remains open at one hundred (100) pounds per day until further notice;
  3. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, November 3, 2024, the possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be seventy-five (75) pounds per day until further notice.  For participants in the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass, the program will remain open for Black Sea Bass at seven (7) times the daily possession limit.

10/18/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, October 28, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category fishery will re-open at five (5) fish per day, until the fishery CLOSES at 12:00AM on Thursday October 31, 2024 until further notice. 

10/18/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, October 20, 2024, the possession limit for Bluefish will be ten thousand (10,000) pounds per week until further notice.
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, October 21, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category fishery will re-open at five (5) fish per day, until the fishery CLOSES at 12:00AM on Tuesday October 22, 2024 until further notice.

10/9/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, October 14, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category fishery will re-open at five (5) fish per day, until the fishery CLOSES at 12:00AM on Tuesday October 15, 2024 until further notice. 

10/4/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, October 6, 2024, the possession limit for Bluefish will be eight thousand (8,000) pounds per week until further notice.
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, October 6, 2024, the possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be one hundred fifty (150) pounds per day until further notice.

Note:  As a reminder for participants in the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass, the program is currently open for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass at seven (7) times the daily possession limit.

9/30/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, the possession limit for Scup General Category and Scup Floating Fish Trap will be sixteen thousand five hundred (16,500) pounds per day until further notice.

9/13/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, September 22, 2024, the possession limit for Summer Flounder for vessels with a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day until further notice; the possession limit for vessels without a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will also be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day until further notice.

Note:  As a reminder for participants in the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass, the program is currently open for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass at seven (7) times the daily possession limit.

9/13/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, September 16, 2024, the possession limit for Summer Flounder for vessels with a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will be two hundred (200) pounds per vessel per day until further notice, the possession limit for vessels without a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will also be two hundred (200) pounds per vessel per day until further notice.

9/6/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, September 8, 2024 the possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be one hundred (100) pounds per day until further notice.  

8/29/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, September 1, 2024 the commercial Tautog fishery will CLOSE until the next sub-period begins on October 15, 2024 at ten (10) fish per day.  

8/14/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Friday, August 16, 2024 the possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be one hundred fifty (150) pounds per day until further notice or until the next sub-period begins on September 16, 2024 and one hundred (100) pounds per day.  
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, August 18, 2024 the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass will CLOSE for Summer Flounder ONLY, due to 85% of the sub-period quota having been reached.  The program will re-open at 12:00AM on Monday, September 16, 2024 at seven (7) times the daily limit.  

8/9/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, August 12, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category fishery will re-open at five (5) fish per day, until the fishery CLOSES at 12:00AM on Tuesday August 13, 2024 until further notice. 

7/26/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, July 29, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category fishery will re-open at five (5) fish per day, until the fishery CLOSES at 12:00AM on Tuesday July 30, 2024 until further notice. 
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, July 28, 2024, the commercial possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be one hundred fifty (150) pounds per day, until further notice or until the next sub-period begins on August 16, 2024 at fifty (50) pounds per day. 

7/19/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, July 22, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category fishery will re-open at five (5) fish per day until the fishery CLOSES on Tuesday July 23, 2024 until further notice. 

7/12/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, July 14, 2024, the commercial possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be one hundred (100) pounds per day until further notice or until the next sub-period begins on August 16, 2024 at fifty (50) pounds per day. 
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category Fishery will CLOSE until further notice. 

6/17/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, the commercial Striped Bass General Category Fishery will CLOSE until further notice, or until the next sub-period begins on July 9, 2024 at five (5) fish per day. 

6/7/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, June 9, 2024, the possession limit for Black Sea Bass will be one hundred fifty (150) pounds per vessel per day until further notice, or until the next sub-period begins on July 1, 2024 at fifty (50) pounds per vessel per day. 

6/6/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, June 9, 2024, the possession limit for Summer Flounder for vessels with a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day until further notice, or until the next sub-period begins on September 16, 2024 at five hundred (500) pounds per vessel per day.  The possession limit for vessels without a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate will also be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day until further notice, or until the next sub period begins on September 16, 2024 at two hundred (200) pounds per vessel per day.

5/24/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, May 26, 2024, the possession limit for Summer flounder will be one hundred fifty (150) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice or until the next sub-period begins on September 16, 2024 at five hundred (500) pounds per vessel per day for those with a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate, and for those without a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate two hundred (200) pounds per vessel per day.

5/21/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00 A.M. on Friday, May 24, 2024, the commercial Tautog fishery will CLOSE, until re-opening August 1, 2024 @ 10 fish per vessel per day..

5/10/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00 A.M. on Monday, May 13, 2024, the commercial Menhaden fishery inside the Menhaden Management Area will CLOSE as a result of the biomass dropping below the 1.5 million pound threshold. The commercial possession limit in State waters outside the Menhaden Management Area will remain open at 120,000 pounds/vessel/day. Please refer to the commercial menhaden regulations (Part 3 - Finfish, section 3.21.2) for more information, or contact Nicole Lengyel Costa at 401-423-1940.

4/26/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00 A.M. on Monday, April 29, 2024, the commercial possession limit for Menhaden Inside the Menhaden Management Area will be one-hundred twenty-thousand (120,000) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice; the commercial possession limit for Menhaden in state waters outside the Menhaden Management Area remains at one-hundred twenty-thousand (120,000) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice. 

    The opening of the Menhaden Management Area is based on DMF estimating that the weekly menhaden biomass has exceeded the biomass floor of 2 million pounds. Biomass estimates are updated twice per week; if at any time the biomass is estimated to drop below 1.5 million pounds, or the commercial biomass ceiling is projected to be harvested, or the state's commercial quota has been projected to be harvested, the commercial fishery may close.  Please refer to the commercial menhaden regulations (Part 3 - Finfish, section 3.24.2) for more information, or contact Nicole Lengyel Costa at 401-423-1940.

4/26/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, April 28, 2024, the possession limit for Summer flounder for participants in the Winter I Program of the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder will be one thousand (1,000) pounds per vessel per bi-week (permitted vessels only), until further notice or until the next sub-period begins on May 1, 2024 at two hundred (200) pounds per vessel per day.

4/12/2024
AMENDMENT TO EXISTING REGULATIONS

Please be advised that the following regulation amendments have been filed, resulting from the public hearing held on February 28th and RI Marine Fisheries Council meeting held on April 1st:

  • Part 3 – Finfish (effective April 28, 2024):
    • New recreational striped bass filleting requirements
    • Amended seasons for 2024 commercial general category striped bass management
    • Amended frequency of reporting requirements for commercial striped bass floating fish traps  
    • Amended possession limit reduction trigger for commercial striped bass floating fish traps  
    • Clarification regarding when striped bass must be tagged (consistent with Part 7 filing described below)   
    • Clarification of language for commercial menhaden management in several sections in the rule; no changes to management
    • Amended minimum size for general recreational and party/charter modes for 2024 recreational scup management  
    • Amended minimum size, season, and possession limit for 2024 recreational summer flounder management   
    • Commercial possession limit clarification (several instances throughout rule)
  • Part 5 – Lobsters, Crabs, and Other Crustaceans (effective April 28, 2024):  
    • Adoption of new rules requiring electronic tracking for federally permitted lobster and Jonah crab vessels
  • Part 7 – Dealers (effective May 1, 2024): 
    • Clarification regarding when striped bass must be tagged (consistent with Part 3 filing described above)

3/29/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, March 31, 2024, the possession limit for Summer flounder for participants in the Winter I Program of the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder will be two thousand (2,000) pounds per vessel per bi-week (permitted vessels only); until further notice or until the next sub-period begins on May 1, 2024 at two hundred (200) pounds per vessel per day;
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, March 31, 2024, the possession limit for the Black Sea Bass will be one thousand five hundred (1,500) pounds per vessel per week; until the next sub period begins on May 1, 2024, at one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day;

3/1/2024
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, March 3, 2024, the possession limit for Summer flounder for participants in the Winter I Program of the Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder will be three thousand (3,000) pounds per vessel per bi-week (permitted vessels only); until further notice or until the next sub-period begins on May 1, 2024 at two hundred (200) pounds per vessel per day;
  2. Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, March 3, 2024, the possession limit for the Black Sea Bass will be seven hundred fifty (750) pounds per vessel per week; until the next sub period begins on May 1, 2024, at one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day;

12/29/2023
POSSESSION LIMIT MODIFICATION

  1. Black sea bass:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession will be five hundred (500) pounds per vessel per week, until further notice.
  2. Scup - general category:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be fifty thousand (50,000) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
  3. Scup - floating fish traps:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be fifty thousand (50,000) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
  4. Striped bass - general category:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial fishery remains closed until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
  5. Striped bass - floating fish traps:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial fishery remains closed, until reopening April 1, 2024 @ Unlimited possession limit (public hearing planned for February 2024).
  6. Summer flounder - vessels without a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
  7. Summer flounder - vessels with a Summer Flounder Exemption Certificate:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be one hundred (100) pounds per vessel per day, until further notice.
  8. Winter I Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the Winter I Aggregate program remains closed.  Beginning 12:00AM on Sunday, January 7, 2024, the possession limit will be four thousand (4,000) pounds per vessel per bi-week (permitted vessels only) until further notice.
  9. Summer/Fall Aggregate Program for Summer Flounder and Black Sea Bass:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the program remains closed.  The program will re-open on May 1, 2024 @ a weekly possession limit equal to seven times (7X) the daily possession limit (both species, permitted vessels only).
  10. Bluefish:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit will be one thousand (1,000) pounds per vessel per bi-week, until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
  11. Menhaden - Menhaden Management Area:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the fishery remains closed until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
  12. Menhaden - State Waters outside the Menhaden Management Area:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the commercial possession limit remains @ 120,000 pounds per vessel per day until further notice (public hearing planned for February 2024).
  13. Tautog:  Beginning 12:00AM on Monday, January 1, 2024, the fishery remains closed, until reopening 12:00AM on April 1, 2024, @ 10 fish per person or per vessel per day (public hearing planned for February 2024)
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