250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-90-00-3.25

Current through December 26, 2024

Section 250-RICR-90-00-3.25 - Skate

3.25.1Recreational

A. Possession limit: Ten (10) fish per person per day.

3.25.2Commercial

A. Fishing year: May 1 through April 30.

B. State-waters skate wing fishery: Shall be defined as skate harvested, possessed, or landed by a vessel:

1. Fishing in State waters, not on a previously declared DAS, and without an active Federal open-access skate permit; and

2. For food for human consumption with a designated Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) Disposition Code 001 = Food.

3. Minimum size: No minimum size.

4. Possession limit: Thirty-five thousand (35,000) pounds per person and per vessel per week for wings only; or seventy-nine thousand four hundred fifty (79,450) pounds per vessel per week for whole skate

a. Barndoor skate shall not comprise more than twenty-five percent (25%) of total skate wing by weight per vessel per day at the time of landing.

b. Barndoor skate shall be kept separate from other species harvested.

c. When in possession of barndoor skate, vessels are prohibited from discarding any skate species that has been winged.

C. Skate bait fishery: Shall be defined as skate harvested, possessed, or landed by a vessel:

1. Fishing in State waters, not on a previously declared DAS, without an active Federal open-access skate permit, and without a Federal skate bait Letter of Authorization (LOA); and

2. For use as bait with a designated ACCSP Disposition Code 008 = Bait.

3. Maximum length: Whole skates must measure less than twenty-three inches (23") total length.

4. Season and possession limit:

a. May 1 through July 31: Twenty-five thousand (25,000) pounds whole skate per vessel per day. When NOAA Fisheries determines that ninety percent (90%) of a bait skate TAL for sub-period I is landed, the possession limit will be reduced to an incidental catch limit of eight thousand (8,000) pounds whole skate.

b. August 1 through October 31: Twenty-five thousand (25,000) pounds whole skate per vessel per day. When NOAA Fisheries determines that ninety percent (90%) of a bait skate TAL for subperiod II is landed, the possession limit will be reduced to an incidental catch limit of eight thousand (8,000) pounds whole skate.

c. November 1 through April 30: Twenty-five thousand (25,000) pounds whole skate per vessel per day. When NOAA Fisheries determines that eighty percent (80%) of a bait skate TAL for subperiod III is landed, the possession limit will be reduced to an incidental catch limit of eight thousand (8,000) pounds whole skate.

d. Possession limit adjustments: Following the implementation of the incidental catch limit, additional adjustments may be enacted, in accordance with actions by NOAA Fisheries.

(1) To ensure the skate bait fishery does not exceed its seasonal or annual TAL, the fishery will close when NOAA determines that one hundred percent (100%) of the skate bait TAL for a season is to be harvested.

(2) To achieve the seasonal or annual TAL, incidental possession limits may be lifted, reinstating the standard seasonal possession limit.

3.25.3Prohibited Species

A. The harvest, landing, or possession of thorny skate in the marine waters of Rhode Island is prohibited.

250 R.I. Code R. 250-RICR-90-00-3.25

Amended effective 2/28/2019
Amended effective 5/2/2019
Amended effective 6/14/2019
Amended effective 1/1/2020
Amended effective 4/2/2020
Amended effective 7/7/2020
Amended effective 8/20/2020
Amended effective 10/10/2020
Amended effective 1/5/2021
Amended effective 3/30/2021
Amended effective 6/18/2021
Amended effective 1/1/2022
Amended effective 5/1/2022
Amended effective 8/18/2022
Amended effective 1/1/2023
Amended effective 4/30/2023
Amended effective 5/22/2023
Amended effective 9/14/2023
Amended effective 1/8/2024
Amended effective 4/28/2024
Amended effective 7/20/2024