§ 20-6-7. Use of dredges.
Except as hereinafter provided and unless otherwise specified by regulation, no person
shall take any oysters, bay quahaugs, or soft-shell clams from the waters of this
state by dredges, rakes, or other apparatus operated by mechanical power or hauled
by power boats. No licensed person shall cast, haul, or have overboard any dredges
while fishing for oysters, bay quahaugs, or soft-shell clams from the free and common
fisheries of this state, nor shall any licensed boat be used for fishing oysters,
soft-shell clams, or bay quahaugs with dredges, except as provided in this section;
provided, that any person having
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§ 20-6-7. Use of dredges.
Except as hereinafter provided and unless otherwise specified by regulation, no person
shall take any oysters, bay quahaugs, or soft-shell clams from the waters of this
state by dredges, rakes, or other apparatus operated by mechanical power or hauled
by power boats. No licensed person shall cast, haul, or have overboard any dredges
while fishing for oysters, bay quahaugs, or soft-shell clams from the free and common
fisheries of this state, nor shall any licensed boat be used for fishing oysters,
soft-shell clams, or bay quahaugs with dredges, except as provided in this section;
provided, that any person having a license issued under this title for the taking
of scallops may use a dredge or dredges, not exceeding six (6) in number nor exceeding
twenty-eight inches (28″) each in width, for that purpose; provided further, that
the licensee shall immediately return all oysters, soft-shell clams, or bay quahaugs
caught by the licensee to the waters from which they were taken. Any licensed boat
may be used in dredging for mussels by the licensee of that boat, the licensee having
first obtained a permit from the director of environmental management allowing the
licensee so to do; provided, the licensee, while dredging for mussels under the permit
granted the licensee by the director, shall immediately return all oysters, scallops,
or bay quahaugs caught by the licensee to the waters from which they were taken. The
fact of any licensed person being found with oysters, scallops, or bay quahaugs in
their possession while dredging for mussels shall be prima facie evidence that person
was fishing in violation of the provisions of this chapter and shall be subject to
the penalties and fines imposed by this chapter. Any resident dredging for surf clams
or skimmers shall not be in violation of this section if that dredging is done southerly
of the coastline of Little Compton, southerly of a line extending from Church point,
in the town of Little Compton, to Flint point on Aquidneck Island, southerly of the
coastline of Aquidneck Island, southerly of a line extending from Castle Hill point
on Aquidneck Island, to southwest point of Conanicut Island to Bonnet point, Narragansett,
easterly of the coastline of the town of Narragansett, southerly of the coastline
of the towns of Narragansett, South Kingstown, and Charlestown, and westerly to the
Connecticut line. For the purpose of this section, "coastline� refers to the land
facing the open sea.