Section 250-RICR-90-00-12.8 - EligibilityA. Applicants must hold a valid commercial fishing license in Rhode Island and be the owner and/or operator of a vessel that is licensed to harvest and land summer flounder and black sea bass in State waters and must remain so licensed through 2022.B. Applicant vessels must have a historical record of landing summer flounder and black sea bass as recorded in SAFIS for a minimum of one (1) year.C. A maximum of fifty-nine (59) permits will be issued. If the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of permits available, applicants will be selected through a lottery process.D. Applicant vessels shall agree to install a Division-approved vessel monitoring system (VMS) device on their vessel. The cost of such vessel monitoring device shall be the responsibility of the participant.E. Applicant vessels shall agree to submit catch and effort information through a Division-approved electronic application. The cost of such application shall be the responsibility of the participant.F. Applicant vessels shall agree to allow the Department to publicly disclose all landings of summer flounder and black sea bass on a single-vessel resolution basis.G. Applicant vessels shall agree to take any State or Federally authorized observers at any time.H. Application period: Applications must be received by April 1, 2022. In the event that less than fifty-nine (59) applications are received by April 1, 2022, the Division may opt to re-open a subsequent application period to consider additional applications.I. Applicants must be in compliance with commercial fishing data reporting requirements pursuant to Part 2 of this Subchapter.250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-90-00-12.8
Adopted effective 1/5/2021
Amended effective 4/13/2022
Amended effective 6/5/2022