§ 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).