§ 20-1-27. Exotic invasive freshwater fish and invertebrate species — Prohibition on liberation into freshwaters. (a) No person shall release or liberate, by design or accident, any species of non-native (exotic) fish or invertebrate, as defined by the director, into the freshwater lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, or wetlands of the state. The director shall promulgate […]
§ 20-1-28. Regulation of exotic baitfish — Prohibition on importation, sale and transport of exotic baitfish species. (a) No person shall import, transport, culture, or sell exotic species of baitfish, as specified by the director, in Rhode Island. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. The regulations shall include […]
§ 20-1-29. Trade in shark fins. (a) For the purpose of this section: (1) “Shark” means any species of the subclass Elasmobranchii; it does not include smooth dogfish (smooth hounds), spiny dogfish, or species in the suborder Batoidea; (2) “Shark fin” means the raw, dried, or otherwise processed detached fin or the raw, dried, or […]
§ 20-1-3. Definitions. (a) When used in this title, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings, unless the context indicates another meaning: (1) “Bushel” means a standard U.S. bushel, 2,150.4 cubic inches capacity; (2) “Commercial fishing” means to take, harvest, hold, transport, load, or off-load, marine species for sale or for intended […]
§ 20-1-4. Rules and regulations. The director is authorized to promulgate, adopt, and enforce any and all rules and regulations deemed necessary to carry out duties and responsibilities under this title. History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
§ 20-1-5. General enforcement powers. The director, and the director’s authorized agents, employees, and designees, shall protect the wild birds, wild animals, fisheries, and shellfisheries throughout the state and shall administer and enforce the provisions of this title, and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this title, and shall prosecute violations of these laws […]
§ 20-1-5.1. Advice of the marine fisheries council. The director, in exercising authority under this title for the planning, management, and regulation of marine fisheries, shall request and consider in the record as applicable the advice of the marine fisheries council, and in the adoption of management plans and regulations affecting licensing for marine fisheries, […]
§ 20-1-6. Appointment and delegation of powers to conservation officers. The director shall appoint any number of conservation officers that he or she may deem necessary for the detection and prosecution of any violations of the laws of this state enumerated in § 20-1-8. The director may delegate any and all of his or her […]
§ 20-1-7. Deputy wardens. The director may appoint any number of deputy wardens that he or she may deem necessary. The deputy wardens shall not be authorized to carry pistols or revolvers, but shall be authorized to detect violators of the laws of this state enumerated in § 20-1-8. This detection shall be reported to […]
§ 20-1-8. Enforcement powers of director and conservation officers. (a) The director and each conservation officer shall have the power: (1) To enforce all laws, rules, and regulations of this state pertaining to: (i) Fish, wildlife, and all vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants; (ii) Freshwater wetlands, dams, and resources; (iii) Areas and activities subject to the […]
§ 20-1-8.1. Procedures for seizure and forfeiture. (a) Any vessel, boat, fishing tackle, guns, shooting and hunting paraphernalia, traps, decoys, or any other implements, appliances, or equipment used in violation of any law, rule, or regulation relating to fish and wildlife, that, by provision of any section of this title, is subject to forfeiture to […]
§ 20-1-9. Operation of patrol boats. The general assembly shall annually appropriate any sum that it may deem necessary to patrol and police the shellfish grounds; check the licenses of fishermen; protect the scallop areas; collect animal specimens; execute special work incidental to the lobster and other shellfisheries; and enforce the provisions of chapter 22 […]
