Can Co-management be Used to Better Manage the Rhode Island Lobster Fishery?
Alyssa Arcaya Bachelors of Arts in Environmental Studies May 2003 For several years, the populations of many marine species have been declining in Rhode Island. The lobster industry, one of the most valuable fisheries in the state, has experienced an especially drastic decline. In 2001, the Rhode Island government began a legislative process that would overhaul the state’s fishery licensing and management laws. The University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Institute conducted a forum that brought managers, government officials, academics and fishery users together to share opinions and create policy suggestions for fishery management. This “Coastal Institute process” contributed to and influenced the legislative process that eventually produced Senate Bill 2771. The bill contributed to major changes to fisheries management law. Most importantly, it limited fishing effort and new entry into many fishing sectors. It also mandated the development of management plans for every marine species; t
