Show Up for Albies and Bonito: RI DEM Public Comment – February 17 at 5 PM
Next Tuesday, February 17th at 5:00 PM, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is holding a final public comment period before rulemaking on new regulations for False Albacore and Atlantic Bonito. This is a pivotal moment. We can either keep management moving forward for two undervalued, largely unmanaged species, or we can leave the door open to the wrong kind of future.
Right now, false albacore and Atlantic bonito have no management regulations in Rhode Island. In 2025, these two species accounted for more than 900,000 combined directed trips coastwide. In New England alone, there were over 740,000 directed trips for albies and bonito, compared to just 240,000 trips for bluefish. As striped bass and bluefish face ongoing declines and albies and bonito remain relatively abundant, fishing pressure is shifting. Without clear guardrails, increased effort and rising dockside value could quickly turn into large-scale commercial exploitation.
The Proposal
RI DEM is considering several management options. The American Saltwater Guides Association and Saltwater Edge is encouraging anglers, guides, and conservation-minded stakeholders to support a simple, precautionary framework that reflects what responsible fishermen already believe:
- A 16-inch minimum size limit for both recreational and commercial fisheries
- An aggregate recreational bag limit of three fish per angler, combined between both species
- A commercial landing cap for both species
These are clear, enforceable measures that match the current reality of the fishery. A commercial cap is not a punishment, and it is not a call for a moratorium or total closure. It is a safeguard. Without a cap, the incentive structure changes fast. The moment these fish gain value at the dock, management will already be behind.
With black sea bass and bluefish expected to see significant liberalization in 2026, putting basic conservation measures in place for albies and bonito will not disadvantage stakeholders. It simply brings these fisheries in line with a precautionary mindset that our inshore fisheries desperately need.
Why It Matters
We have watched what happens when management reacts too late. Albies and bonito are now driving more effort than bluefish in New England. The writing is on the wall. If we care about long-term access, sustainable runs, and keeping these fish available to anglers who value them most, we need to act before pressure and market forces outpace regulation.
RI DEM needs to hear from more than a handful of voices. They need to hear a clear, unified message from the angling community: we support precautionary management to ensure a sustainable future for our fisheries.
How to Participate
Anglers from along the coast can attend via Zoom or in person:
URI Bay Campus
Corless Auditorium
215 South Ferry Road
Narragansett, RI
Virtual (Zoom):
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Meeting ID: 857 9024 9675
Passcode: 289342
Dial in #: 1-929-205-6099 (listen only)
Written comments may also be submitted via email to Peter Duhamel at peter.duhamel@dem.ri.gov.
If you fish for albies. If you chase bonito. If you believe in keeping opportunity alive for the long haul. Show up. Speak up. This is one of those moments that actually matters.
Dejar un comentario