112 Fish Get Poached From RI Waters, Officials Issue Warning

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Environmental police in Rhode Island issued a warning to anglers about fish poaching after two recent violations resulted in 112 fish being illegally kept.

Last week, Rhode Island Environmental Police said they boarded a boat in Portsmouth operated by a group known to officers from prior fishing violations. Environmental police said the two poachers onboard had 135 scup, 75 over the daily limit.

The vessel owner and operator were issued a criminal summons for exceeding the daily possession limit and a civil citation for a boating safety violation, authorities said. Normally, seized fish are donated to local food shelters, but the fish could not be donated due to their poor condition from improper storage.

Environmental police said they caught more poachers over the weekend.

Officers boarded a boat in Narragansett's Harbor of Refuge that had fur people onboard. According to environmental police, the anglers had 20 black sea bass — 12 over the daily limit, and 13 of the 20 sea bass were undersized.

Environmental police said the poachers also had 23 undersized scup, one undersized summer flounder, and one tautog. Tautog season is currently closed.

The vessel operator was issued a criminal summons for the fisheries violations and a civil citation for a boating safety violation. The seized fish were donated to the Amos House in Providence, a nonprofit social service agency that helps men, women and children in Rhode Island who are hungry, homeless, and in crisis.

"Help us protect what is yours and protect Rhode Island's precious natural resources," officials with the Department of Environmental Management said in a statement. "Report suspected poaching activity directly to DLE at 401-222-3070 (24/7). Calling while suspected violations are actively occurring allows officers the most immediate response possible to stop poaching."