The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Division of Marine Fisheries is asking commercial and recreational fishermen to report tagged lobsters to support ongoing research in Southern New England. The study tracks lobster movement between inshore and offshore waters while evaluating how growth rates respond to environmental shifts.
Fishermen who catch a lobster with a yellow t-bar tag marked RIDEM should submit the date, location, tag number, and whether the animal was kept or released. Helpful optional details include carapace length in millimeters, egg status for females, and photos of the tag or chart plotter. Reports can be texted or called in to 401-484-0257, or emailed to aremick.dem.ri@gmail.com. Other regional studies are also active, so anyone finding a tag marked CFRF should report the same details while noting the tag type.
Every reported tag enters the participant into a quarterly cash award lottery. RIDEM congratulates Darin Thibeault and Ken Murgo, the winners of the most recent drawing. Public participation provides vital scientific data that supports sustainable lobster stock management. Questions about the study can be directed to Corinne Truesdale at corinne.truesdale@dem.ri.gov.
