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Email I sent to Janet Coit, Director of RI DEM:
Dear Director:
As you may recall, I have written to you many times in the past regarding the plight of our state fish, the Striped Bass. I understand you have the final say in what requirements for bag and length limits get enacted.
I implore you to consider how the species is again in decline and 1 fish per day for recreational and charter boats is necessary to save whatever we have left.
To allow the charter boat community to take 2 fish per day per angler and allow the captain and First mate to also take 2 fish per day is unconscionable. In the typical scenario with a "6 pack charter" (6 Anglers per trip) this would amount to 16 fish killed each trip. Two charters a day times the number of commercial charter boats would amount to literally thousands of fish killed in a day.
I am not trying to put charter boats out of business. On the contrary, I am trying to protect the species so the charter boats can continue to stay in business.
I feel and equitable solution would be 1 fish per charter angler and the captain and mate be forbidden to take any fish when hosting a charter.
Thank you,
Paul Iemma
Board of Directors, Industrial Foundation of Burrillville.
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