Title 20
Fish and Wildlife

Chapter 2.1
Commercial Fishing Licenses

R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-2.1-8

§ 20-2.1-8. Dealers’ licenses and fees.

(a) No person, partnership, firm, association, or corporation shall barter or trade in marine species taken by persons licensed under this chapter unless a license so to do has been obtained from the director of environmental management.

(b) Any licensee operating under the provisions of this section shall purchase marine species from licensed persons only and shall purchase or possess only those lobsters legally taken or possessed.

(c) The director shall issue and enforce rules and regulations and orders governing bartering and trading in marine species by licensed persons of marine species and licensed dealers, and other persons, partnerships, firms, associations, or corporations.

(d) License types and fees.

(1) Multipurpose dealer’s license This license shall allow the dealer to purchase or sell all marine products in the state of Rhode Island. The license shall be valid for the calendar year in which it is issued. The fee shall be four hundred and fifty dollars ($450).

(2) Finfish dealer’s license. This license shall allow the dealer to purchase or sell all finfish products in the state of Rhode Island. The license shall be valid for the calendar year in which it is issued. The fee shall be three hundred dollars ($300).

(3) Shellfish dealer’s license. This license shall allow the dealer to purchase or sell all shellfish products in the state of Rhode Island. The license shall be valid for the calendar year in which it is issued. The fee shall be three hundred dollars ($300).

(4) Crustacean dealer license. This license shall allow the dealer to purchase all crustacean products in the state of Rhode Island. The license shall be valid for the calendar year in which it is issued. The fee shall be three hundred dollars ($300).

(e) Seafood dealers license — Suspension or revocation. The director may suspend, revoke, or deny the license of a seafood dealer or fisher of marine species for the violation of any provision of this title or the rules, regulations, or orders adopted or issued pursuant to this title.

(f) Any person aggrieved by the decisions of the director may appeal the decision pursuant to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42.

(g) The director is authorized to enter and inspect the business premises, appurtenant structures, vehicles, or vessels of any seafood dealer and to inspect the records maintained by a seafood dealer for the purpose of determining compliance with the provisions of this section and any rules, regulations, or orders issued under this section, and no person shall interfere with, obstruct the entrance, or inspection of the director or the director’s agents of those business premises, appurtenant structures, vehicles, or vessels.

(h) Any violation of the provisions of this section or any rule, regulation, or order adopted under this section shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in § 20-1-16.

History of Section.
P.L. 2002, ch. 47, § 4; P.L. 2021, ch. 162, art. 7, § 4, effective July 6, 2021.