§ 20-2.2-1 - Findings.
SECTION 20-2.2-1
§ 20-2.2-1 Findings. – The general assembly finds and declares:
(1) The constitution of the state places plenary authorityand responsibility in the general assembly to provide for the conservation ofthe natural resources of the state, including its marine fisheries;
(2) The state of Rhode Island has historically establishedprograms to provide for and regulate the harvesting and taking of marine fishfor recreational purposes;
(3) The federal government and regional entities haveestablished and continue to establish regulatory programs, management measures,quotas, and other restrictions that affect persons engaged in marinerecreational fisheries in Rhode Island, and Rhode Island functions in whole orin part in the context of federal and regional programs, depending on thefishery;
(4) The regulatory programs, management measures, quotas, andother restrictions governing marine recreational fisheries are based primarilyon catch and effort statistics from recreational fisherman, and on fisheryresource assessments, which gauge the biological status of fish stocks;
(5) Since 1979, recreational fishing assessments have beenderived from the marine recreational fisheries statistics Survey (MRFSS),administered by the federal government in partnership with the states;
(6) In 2006, congress acknowledged major flaws in theaccuracy of the assessments provided by (MRFSS), and called upon the nationalmarine fisheries service (NMFS) to undertake programmatic reforms, includingthe establishment of a universal registry of all saltwater anglers to provide amore accurate and efficient means for acquiring recreational catch and effortdata;
(7) In 2008, (NMFS) initiated a new marine recreationalinformation program (MRIP) to replace (MRFSS), and enacted rules requiringmarine recreational fisherman to either register under a new national program,or be registered or licensed by a state program that meets federal requirements;
(8) All coastal states have enacted, or are in the process ofenacting, marine recreational fishing license or registry programs;
(9) The interests of recreational saltwater anglers in RhodeIsland can best be met by establishing a state program that meets federalrequirements, contributes to improved state-based recreational fishingassessments and stock assessments, and supports fair and effective regulatoryprograms and quota allocations for Rhode Island's marine recreational fisheries;
(10) Additionally, the interests of recreational saltwateranglers in Rhode Island are well served by a program that supports improved andexpanded opportunities for the public to access the marine waters of the state;and
(11) The use of license fee revenues for any purpose otherthan managing recreational fisheries and enhancing recreational fishingopportunities would: violate the terms of § 20-9-3 and trigger adiscontinuation of all federal funding provided to Rhode Island pursuant to theFederal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. § 777-777K); conflictwith legislative intent, as set forth in subdivision 20-3.1-7(3); veer from therestricted use requirements governing freshwater fishing, commercial fishing,and hunting license fee revenues; affect compliance with the requirements ofthis chapter; and compromise the purposes of this chapter.