Rhode Island Police Enforce Fishing Regulations After Illegal Catches

Rhode Island Environmental Police are urging anglers to follow state fishing regulations following recent cases of illegal catches that drew attention on social media, WJAR reported.

Marine Patrol Officer Bob Murtha inspected fishing licenses and used a measuring device on catches belonging to shoreline fishers during a ride-along in Jamestown. He found two fish that were 14 inches long, which is two inches below the 16-inch minimum Murtha said applied to that fish, according to WJAR.

Murtha issued a ticket to the angler and warned others whose fish appeared undersized. The state Department of Environmental Management notes that legal minimum dimensions and possession thresholds differ depending on the species and may shift seasonally.

Having served with the Department of Environmental Management for over a decade, Murtha explained that personnel strive to educate the public on regulations alongside issuing penalties.

“We want you to go in the right direction,” Murtha said. “We don’t want you to end up doing violations.”

State waters were the setting for a recent enforcement action where authorities confiscated more than 70 unlawfully caught black sea bass and tautog from a pair of fishers. The fish were largely below the legal minimum size, and the anglers were cited for multiple violations, WJAR reported.

Murtha said undersized fish may not have had time to reproduce, which can affect fish populations. The Department of Environmental Management states that the agency’s environmental officers uphold conservation and fishing rules while striving to keep good ties with the community.

Anyone who observes potential infractions was advised by Murtha to reach out to the agency’s round-the-clock dispatch center at 401-222-3070. The department also lists that number for reporting active violations.

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