§ 20-1-1. Legislative findings. (a) The general assembly finds that the animal life inhabiting the lands of the state, its lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers, and the marine waters within its territorial jurisdiction, are a precious, renewable, natural resource of the state that, through application of enlightened management techniques, can be developed, preserved, and maintained […]
§ 20-1-10. Obligation of vessels to heave-to on command of a patrol boat. (a) Every person operating a boat or vessel in Rhode Island territorial waters who fails to immediately heave-to upon a shouted command or a flare fired into the air from a marine patrol boat operated by the department of environmental management and […]
§ 20-1-11. Prosecution of violations. It shall be the duty of the attorney general to conduct the prosecution of all court proceedings brought by the director as requested by the director. History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
§ 20-1-12. Fixing of seasons and bag limits. (a) The director is authorized to adopt regulations fixing seasons, bag limits, size limits, possession limits, and methods of taking on any species of fish, game, bird, or other wild animal occurring within the state, other than marine species regulated by the marine fisheries council. (1) These […]
§ 20-1-12.1. Modifications to possession limits and seasons for marine species managed under quotas. (a) In accordance with regulatory programs promulgated pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42; and pursuant to the exemption afforded by § 42-35-18(b)(5); and notwithstanding the provisions of chapter 35.1 of title 42, the director shall have […]
§ 20-1-13. Publication and effective date of seasons and bag limits. Notice of the director’s intention to adopt regulations pursuant to § 20-1-12 and the holding of a public hearing on these regulations shall be published in at least one newspaper of general statewide circulation, not less than twenty (20) days prior to the date […]
§ 20-1-14. Control of fishing in Wallum Lake, Central Pond, and the James V. Turner Reservoir. The director may make suitable rules and regulations governing fishing in Wallum Lake in Burrillville and Central Pond and the James V. Turner Reservoir in East Providence, and for this purpose, may confer with the Division of Fisheries and […]
§ 20-1-15. Entry of private property. The director of environmental management, and each duly authorized employee of that department, may, in the discharge of duties under this title, enter upon and pass over private property without liability for trespass. If feasible, the employee shall give notice to the property owner. History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. […]
§ 20-1-16. Penalty for violations. (a) Unless otherwise specifically provided, the violation of any law or rule or regulation relating to wild animals, wild birds, lobsters and fish, marine, freshwater and anadromous fisheries and shellfisheries shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or imprisonment for up […]
§ 20-1-17. Cooperation with other states. The director may cooperate with the fish and wildlife commissioners or other similar bodies or agencies of other states in carrying out the purpose of this title. History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § 3.
§ 20-1-18. Collector’s permits. Notwithstanding any other restriction or prohibition set forth in this title or in §§ 11-47-20 and 11-47-51, the director is authorized to issue special permits for the taking, handling, and/or possession of any species of wild animal, of any size, age, and numbers as may be appropriate to persons for the […]
§ 20-1-19. Powers of enforcement of officers in waters between states. If and when the states of New York and Connecticut and the commonwealth of Massachusetts, or any of them, shall enact similar laws for the arrest and punishment for violations of the conservation or fish laws of this state or the state so enacting […]
§ 20-1-2. Authority over fish and wildlife. The general assembly hereby vests in the director of the department of environmental management authority and responsibility over the fish and wildlife of the state and over the fish, lobsters, shellfish, and other biological resources of marine waters of the state. History of Section.P.L. 1981, ch. 197, § […]
§ 20-1-20. Power to require reports. When deemed necessary to carry out the director’s duties under this title, the director may require that reports detailing hunt, catch, effort, and other data be provided to the director by any person who hunts or fishes in this state or who lands his or her catch in this […]
§ 20-1-21. General powers. (a) The following fees shall be established and paid to the department of environmental management for issuance of the following special permits: Ferret Permit $10.00 Scientific Collector’s Permit $25.00 (b) Any fees collected under authority of this section shall be deposited into restricted receipt accounts established by this title, as appropriate […]
§ 20-1-22. Severability. The provisions of this title shall be interpreted and construed liberally in aid of its declared purpose. If any provision of any of the chapters in this title, or any rule or regulation issued under this title, is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of the title and […]
§ 20-1-23. [Reserved.]
§ 20-1-24. Wildlife Damage Act. (a) For purposes of this section, “wildlife population” includes, but is not limited to: deer, indigenous Canadian geese, mute swans, cormorants, wild turkeys, crows, coyotes, and furbearers. (b) The department of environmental management shall establish a program of financial assistance to farmers, when state or federal funds become available, for […]
§ 20-1-25. Internet hunting. (1) “Internet hunting” means the use of the internet to remotely control the shooting of any bird or animal. (2) No person shall shoot at or kill any bird or animal with any gun via an internet connection in Rhode Island. (3) No person shall import, export, or possess any bird […]
§ 20-1-26. Freshwater invasive aquatic plants — Prohibition on importation and possession. (a) No person shall import, transport, disperse, distribute, introduce, sell, purchase, or possess in the state any species of non-native (exotic) freshwater invasive aquatic plants, as defined by the director. The director shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the prohibition and its applicability. […]
