Why Not Go Fishing?

The Ocean State has both salt- and fresh-water fishing in abundance, but how many of us ever go fishing? Children especially love this activity, but many adults are drawn to this sport as well. Here are some connections and news to get you started. If you have comments to add, be sure to send them along! 

The RI Department of Environmental Management (DEM) website is the place to start, at the Division of Fish and Wildlife. This part of DEM takes care of 44 wildlife management areas and 200 boat launching ramps and shore fishing areas in our state. Among other things, they are also responsible for four freshwater fisheries, which occasionally have open houses.

The Marine Fisheries Section conducts research and monitors finish and shellfish important for commerce and recreation. The Freshwater & Anadromous Fisheries Section also conducts research, and manages stocking programs, surveys ponds and stream fisheries surveys, and restores anadromous fish runs. This is the section that organized the Aquatic Resource Education Program. They offer flyfishing and Fly Tying workshops as well as freshwater and marine ecology workshops for teachers, scout, and camp leaders. I try to get these into What Grows On in RI whenever I notice them.

This is just a taste of the amazing amount of info available at the RI DEM website. You'll find state sportfish records, FAQs, Herring Identification Key, and so much more! 

An interesting natural resources topic you may like to explore sometime is the Rhode Island 2015 Wildlife Action Plan Revision, which is currently in development. You can participate if you are interested. The page has many links to additional information, including the State Wildlife Action Plan, which examines "the health of each state's wildlife and habitats, identify the problems they face, and outline actions needed to conserve them over the long term." URI is assisting with technical expertise, and The Nature Conservancy is partnering with DEM to develop the revised Wildlife Action Plan. 

In fact, the DEM and The Nature Conservancy have formed a five-year partnership to create and improve public access sites for fishing, boating, and hunting throughout Rhode Island.  A recent DEM press release describes the first project, to make it possible for people with disabilities to fish off the pier at Colt State Park.