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COMMERCIAL TAUTOG TAGGING PROGRAM The commercial tautog fishery opens on April 1st for the 2024 season. Please be advised that as of January 1, 2020, all tautog harvested commercially must be tagged with a tag issued by DEM. Tags will be available
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<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">COMMERCIAL TAUTOG TAGGING PROGRAM
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span></i></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">The commercial tautog fishery opens on April 1<sup>st</sup> for the 2024 season. Please be advised that as of January 1, 2020, all tautog harvested commercially must be tagged
with a tag issued by DEM.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Tags will be available
<span style="color:black;background:yellow">for <b>in person</b> <b>pick up </b>beginning Monday, March 18<sup>th</sup></span> at the following locations:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Coastal Resources office in Galilee, Division of Marine Fisheries (RIDMF) office</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">301 Great Island Road, 3 Fort Wetherill Rd</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:3.0pt;margin-left:.5in;text-indent:.5in">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Narragansett, RI 02882, Jamestown, RI 02835</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:3.0pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Both offices are open Monday – Friday from 8:30 – 4:00. Initial tag allocations are based on individual fishing history and compliance with reporting
requirements. Additional tags are available upon return of reports in season. </span>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">Applicators will be available for purchase for $32 by cash, check, or money order until supplies run out.
<b>No cash will be accepted at the Jamestown office</b>. Applicators are also available for purchase through
</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/nationalband.com/__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!OmdvRGuD92Nn-2uxLqC42NaEoCFRHAEUyfZVV_MWxS5GPdXdd6PKesWFEmlOw31MrYLiwR_paR34TV6G91Y65gm3m2LdFyZirjc_WKk$"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">National
Band and Tag</span><span style="color:blue"> [nationalband.com]</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> Co. (<a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http:/nationalband.com__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!OmdvRGuD92Nn-2uxLqC42NaEoCFRHAEUyfZVV_MWxS5GPdXdd6PKesWFEmlOw31MrYLiwR_paR34TV6G91Y65gm3m2LdFyZiTKuOUGc$"><span style="color:blue">nationalband.com
[nationalband.com]</span></a> search for Style 681S-MOD Tautog Tag Applicator).</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif">DEM will be conducting two tag issuance events at the following times and locations:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:yellow">RI DEM Headquarters, 235 Promenade St, Providence RI on
<u>Friday March 29 from 10AM – 4PM</u></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1">
<![if !supportLists]><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Symbol"><span style="mso-list:Ignore">·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span><![endif]><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black;background:yellow">Pier Nine, Washington St in Newport on
<u>Wednesday March 27 from 10AM – 4PM</u></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;background:#FEFEFE"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:6.0pt;background:#FEFEFE"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Summary of tagging program:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Tags will be available to all commercial fishermen eligible to participate in the commercial tautog fishery.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Each tautog must be tagged on the left opercula bone with the tag number visible.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">All tautog must be tagged onboard the vessel prior to offloading from the vessel.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Tags are single use and assigned to individual fishermen. Tags cannot be transferred between individuals or fish.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Tags are issued on an annual basis. All unused tags must be returned to the Department at the end of the year with the required tag reports. Failure to return tags or provide
reports may result in an inability to acquire tags for the next fishing year. </span>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A;background:#FEFEFE">Tautog must remain tagged until they reach the final consumer. Processed or fileted tautog shall be packed with the tag and available for inspection, with
tags retained until all process or fileted tautog are sold.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.25in;background:#FEFEFE"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:#FEFEFE"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">For f</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">ull regulations see
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:black"><a href="https://rules.sos.ri.gov/regulations/part/250-90-00-3"><span style="font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:blue">RIMFR Part 3 - Finfish</span></a></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:black">
section 3.13.2(C) “Commercial Tautog Tagging”.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:#FEFEFE"><span style="color:black"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;background:#FEFEFE"><b><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">Please Note:
</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">RIDMF adjusts the amount of tags initially provided for use annually based on the amount of tags used in the prior year.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:.5in;text-indent:-.25in;background:#FEFEFE">
<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:Symbol;color:#0A0A0A">·</span><span style="font-size:7.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:#0A0A0A">
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A">If you failed to turn in reports or unused tags from the 2023 season prior to the deadline you will only be issued 25 tags until you can demonstrate that you can follow proper
reporting procedures. NO EXCEPTIONS.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background:#FEFEFE"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial",sans-serif;color:#0A0A0A"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:16.0pt;font-family:"Harlow Solid Italic"">James O’Connor
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Superintendent of State Piers
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">RI Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Division of Coastal Resources
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">(401) 782-4492<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt">Cell (401) 328-6958<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><a href="mailto:James.Oconnor@dem.ri.gov">James.Oconnor@dem.ri.gov</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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