A new RI Salt Water Fishing License requirement passed last night and takes effect Janurary 1, 2010.
Resident license- $7.
Non-resident- - $10.
The Rhode Island saltwater license legislation passed both the RI House and Senate, as amended.
Last minute changes made was to the penalty/fine section:
$10 for first offense
$50 for second offense
$100 for third offense.
You can view the full text of the license here:
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us//BillTe...9/S0969Aaa.pdf
Relevant verbiage:
10) Additionally, the interests of recreational saltwater anglers in Rhode Island are well
19 served by a program that supports improved and expanded opportunities for the public to access
20 the marine waters of the state; and
21 (11) The use of license fee revenues for any purpose other than managing recreational
22 fisheries and enhancing recreational fishing opportunities would: violate the terms of section 20-
23 9-3 and trigger a discontinuation of all federal funding provided to Rhode Island pursuant to the
24 Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. section 777-777K); conflict with legislative
25 intent, as set forth in subdivision 20-3.1-7(3); veer from the restricted use requirements governing
26 freshwater fishing, commercial fishing, and hunting license fee revenues; affect compliance with
27 the requirements of this chapter; and compromise the purposes of this chapter.
28 20-2.2-2. Purposes. -- The purposes of this chapter are to:
29 (1) Enable recreational fisherman to fish legally in the marine waters of Rhode Island,
30 and in all offshore federal waters, via a state -based recreational fishing licensing program,
31 established in accordance with the requirements set forth by the federal Magnuson-Stevens
32 Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. section 1601 et seq.);
33 (2) Establish a state-based licensing program that will: provide Rhode Island recreational
34 fisherman, including residents and non-resident visitors, with a convenient and inexpensive
3
1 licensing process; support and contribute to more accurate state-based fishing and resource
2 assessments; and provide for fair and effective management programs that optimize benefits and
3 opportunities for Rhode Island recreational fisherman; and
4 (3) Establish a dedicated funding vehicle to support improved coastal access
5 opportunities for recreational fisherman along the Rhode Island shoreline.