Title 20
Fish and Wildlife

Chapter 2.1
Commercial Fishing Licenses

§ 20-2.1-6. Nonresident licenses, endorsements, and fees.

Subject to the rules of the department, nonresidents may apply for the following commercial fishing licenses:

(1) Standardnonresidentcommercial fishinglicense.

(i) Nonresidents age eighteen (18) and over shall be eligible to obtain a standard nonresident commercial fishing license and, in accordance with applicable qualifying criteria, available fishery sector endorsements, provided that the state of residence of the person affords the same privilege in a manner that is not more restrictive to Rhode Island residents. A standard nonresident commercial fishing license shall allow the license holder to harvest, land, and sell in a lawful manner any marine species, as dictated by the fishery endorsement(s) associated with the license. Fishery endorsements shall be established by the department consistent with fishery management plans developed pursuant to this chapter.

(ii) Duly Rhode Island-licensed nonresidents in a commercial fishery as of December 31 of the immediately preceding year shall be eligible to obtain a standard nonresident commercial fishing license with a single sector endorsement applicable to the fishery sectors for which they were licensed as of December 31 of the immediately preceding year; provided:

(A) That the state of residence of the person affords the same privilege in a manner that is not more restrictive to Rhode Island residents;

(B) That those persons apply for the standard nonresident commercial fishing license in accordance with § 20-2.1-4(g); and

(C) That those persons shall also be subject to any other restrictions that were applicable to the license as of December 31 of the immediately preceding year, which other restrictions may be altered or changed consistent with fishery management plans developed pursuant to this chapter.

(iii) Persons not duly licensed as of December 31 of the immediately preceding year shall be eligible to obtain a standard nonresident commercial fishing license, per endorsement, when available, consistent with fishery management plans developed pursuant to this chapter, in accordance with applicable qualifying criteria, provided that the state of residence of the person affords the same privilege in a manner that is not more restrictive to Rhode Island residents.

(2) Fees.

(i) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license.

(A) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus one limited fishery endorsement: The fee shall be three hundred fifty dollars ($350).

(B) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus one unlimited fishery endorsement: The fee shall be seven hundred dollars ($700).

(C) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus two limited fishery endorsements: The fee shall be seven hundred dollars ($700).

(D) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus three limited fishery endorsements: The fee shall be one thousand fifty dollars ($1,050).

(E) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus one unlimited fishery endorsement and one limited fishery endorsement: The fee shall be one thousand fifty dollars ($1,050).

(F) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus one unlimited fishery endorsement and two limited fishery endorsements: The fee shall be one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400).

(G) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus two unlimited fishery endorsements: The fee shall be one thousand four hundred dollars ($1,400).

(H) Standard nonresident commercial fishing license plus two unlimited and one limited fishery endorsement: The fee shall be one thousand seven hundred fifty dollars ($1,750).

(3) Vessel declaration and fees. The department shall require a nonresident owner and/or operator of a commercial fishing vessel to make a declaration for that vessel; which shall be made at the time of initial license issuance and each renewal, or prior to the vessel’s being used for commercial fishing in Rhode Island waters by the nonresident owner and/or operator if the first usage of the vessel for commercial fishing occurs during the course of a year after the license has been issued or renewed, for a cost of fifty dollars ($50.00), plus one dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) for each whole foot over twenty-five feet (25′) in length overall.

(4) New licenses. Any resident of a state that accords to Rhode Island residents commercial fishing privileges that include an ability to obtain a new license to fish for finfish species that are subject to restrictions and/or quotas, may on species specific reciprocal basis be eligible to obtain standard nonresident commercial fishing licenses by endorsement as provided in this section, subject to availability and with the priority established in § 20-2.1-5(5)(i).