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"Keeping mind that this has been a long time practice in RI."
My feeling is that just because it has been a long time practice does not make it right! IMO this is in large part a fundemental problem with the comm fishery...it has many rules that are the way they are because we did it that way before. It is wrong, technically against current law and should be disallowed.
Re: herring pens. The take limit should be firmly enforced (whether 0 or 100 per day...whatever the number) if someone keeps them alive in a pen, it does not change the take limit. IMO there is a still lot of late night raids and people taking 100's when the limit is 12. Frankly I have no problem giving up herring (I don't want to, but I gladly would for the benfit of the species BUT I want to see the comm guys give them up as well...not just a modest cut...a give up. ) The last few years have been banner herring hauls for many, combine this with the lack of other forage fish during a bass rebound and here is the problem. Shut it all down (comm and rec for 5 years...fine by me) and make forage fish restoration a top priority.
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