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<span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 42.399993896484375px">Attention RI Lobster and Jonah Crab Fishery Participants<span> </span></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white">The RIDEM Division of Marine Fisheries will be using economic relief funds to assist the Rhode Island Lobster and Jonah Crab Industry in compliance with the recent
NOAA final rule implementing changes to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan for the 2022 fishing year<span> </span><span dir="ltr" style="color: currentcolor; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(0, 120, 215) !important">beginning
May 1.</span> As part of this assistance plan, weak line and weak links will be available to qualified fishery participants.<span> </span></span></p>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white">The application period for these funds is now open.</span></u></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white"><span> </span>The
application period begins December 6<sup>th</sup>and<span> </span><span dir="ltr" style="color: currentcolor; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(0, 120, 215) !important"><span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(0, 120, 215) !important">ends
December 20</span></span><sup><span dir="ltr" style="color: currentcolor; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(0, 120, 215) !important">th</span></sup><span dir="ltr" style="color: currentcolor; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(0, 120, 215) !important"><span dir="ltr" style="text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: rgb(0, 120, 215) !important">,
2021 at 4:00pm</span></span>.<span> </span><b>Applications received after the application period has closed will not be accepted</b>. For details on the assistance plan and eligibility requirements, please visit<span> </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/Fisheries-CARES-Act.php#Whale" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215); text-decoration: underline">http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/marine-fisheries/Fisheries-CARES-Act.php#Whale</a></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: black; background-color: white"><span> </span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white"> </span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white">The link for the assistance plan application and affidavit can also be found at<span> </span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/marine/pdf/WhaleLob_Affidavit.pdf" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215); text-decoration: underline">http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/marine/pdf/WhaleLob_Affidavit.pdf</a></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white">For more information contact:<span> </span></span></p>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white">Scott Olszewski,<span> </span><span dir="ltr" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215); text-decoration: underline">(401)423-1934</span>,<span> </span></span></p>
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<u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(5, 99, 193); background-color: white"><a href="mailto:scott.olszewski@dem.ri.gov" style="color: rgb(0, 120, 215); text-decoration: underline">scott.olszewski@dem.ri.gov</a></span></u><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: white"></span></p>
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