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Purpose: A forum to review the status of commercial fish stocks in Rhode Island and identify and discuss different management options for the fisheries.

Mandate: An Intergovernmental (Governor, House, and Senate) Working Group (IWG) for Fisheries Management has requested that the Coastal Institute serve as a neutral venue where the fishing industry, resource managers, academic experts, political leadership, and the public can meet to discuss the current and future state of commercial fisheries management in Rhode Island. Phase 1 of this project was completed in April 2001 and provided the IWG the options it has to resolve the current moratorium on commercial licenses. In accordance with the legislative mandates of the Rhode Island Marine Fisheries Management Modernization Act of 2001, Phase 2 will identify potential legislative changes for the 2002 session that might be made within specific issues (e.g. data acquisition, recreational licensing) and fisheries (lobsters, shellfish, finfish, aquaculture). See Senate Bill S-2771 introduced on Feburary 7, 2002 and sponsored by Senators Sosnowski, McDonald, Walaska, Bates, and Felag.

Support: This forum is supported by a grant from the Office of the Governor of Rhode Island and staff assistance and technical provided by Sea Grant RI, The Partnership for Narragansett Bay, the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program, and the Coastal Institute.