DEM extends commercial fishing licenses

PROVIDENCE – Commercial fishermen who have applied for but not yet received their 2008 licenses may continue to use their 2007 licenses through Tuesday, Jan. 15, according to the R.I. Department of Environmental Management.
The licenses – which had been set to expire today – must be on their persons while they are fishing.
The DEM said it granted the two-week extension because application forms for the 2008 licenses were not sent to commercial fishermen until mid-December – later than in past years. As a result, the department has been flooded with many applications all at once, creating a backlog it may take the DEM staff another week to clear.
Additional information, including online renewal of boat registrations and marine fisheries licenses, is available from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management at www.dem.ri.gov.