Fishermen face Feb. 28 license registration deadline

PROVIDENCE – Commercial fishing license holders seeking new or renewed licenses from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management face a Feb. 28 deadline.

The state environmental watchdog agency will release a limited number of new commercial fishing licenses, said a DEM statement. A total of 23 new quahog, 11 new soft-shell clam and six new restricted finfish endorsements on commercial fishing licenses will be available for the 2013 fishing season. The finfish license will allow fishermen to collect commercial harvest of any six species of restricted finfish: summer flounder, scup, striped bass, black sea bass, tautog and winter flounder.

Applications for new endorsements that are filed with DEM by Feb. 28 will be screened and awarded “on the basis of the priority selection process set forth in the commercial licensing regulations,” said a DEM release.

Rhode Island residents also can obtain new, no-limit or -restriction commercial fishing licenses for: shellfish other, non-restricted finfish, and other non-lobster crustacean.

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Residents who are 65 or older can apply for the 65 & Older Shellfish license and any resident who is a full-time student and under the age of 23 as of Feb. 28 may obtain a Student Shellfish license. Both of the aforementioned licenses allow for the commercial harvest of quahogs. DEM added that any non-resident may also obtain a new commercial license with non-restricted finfish endorsements.

The marine license year runs from Jan. 1, 2013, to Dec. 31, 2013, and the renewal period runs from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 for multi-purpose license holders, commercial fishing license holders, shellfish over-65 license holders and student shellfish license holders.

Applications for all new licenses must be filed with DEM by Feb. 28. Guidance documents and applications can be found on www.dem.ri.gov under the “Hunting, Fishing, Boating Licenses” link on the main page.

“A late fee renewal period for certain license … runs from March 1 through April 29 and includes a $200 late fee in addition to the cost of the license,” said the DEM release. Renewals are not available after April 29.

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