Marine Fisheries Public Data Request

Access to Public Records Act (APRA)

The Access to Public Records Act allows a citizen the opportunity to inspect and/ or to copy public records. 

• The cost per copied page of written public documents will be $0.15 per page and an hourly rate not to exceed $15.00 (fifteen) dollars per hour for time spent for the search, retrieval and redaction of necessary documents, with no charge for the first hour. 
• If the request requires a charge to be assessed, due to the manner in which the information is stored, a charge will be made for the actual production and/or reproduction cost.
• Please be advised that the Access to Public Records Act allows a public body ten (10) business days to respond, which can be extended an additional twenty (20) business days for "good cause." We appreciate your understanding and patience.

To better understand what records are accessible and to review the pertinent laws regarding Access to Public Records & the Open Meetings Act, you may obtain a copy of the Attorney General’s 23rd Annual Open Government Summit Booklet here or the Summit presentation here.

Your Right to Data Access and Privacy

R.I.G.L. § 38-2-1: “The public's right to access to public records and the individual's right to dignity and privacy are both recognized to be principles of the utmost importance in a free society. The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate public access to public records. It is also the intent of this chapter to protect from disclosure information about particular individuals maintained in the files of public bodies when disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy.”

The Division of Marine Fisheries will accept all requests submitted. However, submission of a request does not guarantee that it will be approved for processing. Submissions that would violate individual privacy per R.I.G.L. § 38-2 or not meet the ACCSP rule of three (in the case of fishery-dependent data) will be denied.