Sec.26-159a-28. Federal research set-asides for quota managed species

(a) Definitions. Federal Research Set-Aside, or "RSA", means that portion of the total allowable landings for certain fisheries that is designated as a research quota and that may be harvested and sold to fund research and compensate vessels under the Research Set-Aside Program administered by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

(b) No person fishing in federal waters under an RSA shall be required to hold the applicable Connecticut quota-managed species license endorsement letter issued under sections 26-159a-10, 26-159a-15 or 26-159a-16 of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies to possess or land said species or be prohibited from possessing or landing said species during a closed season or be constrained by a trip limit for said species other than that established by National Marine Fisheries Service for the RSA Program.

(c) No person shall take any species from Connecticut waters under an RSA during a closed season for such species or in excess of the possession limits for such species as specified in the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(d) No vessel shall possess in Connecticut waters a quota-managed species taken under an RSA or land in Connecticut a quota-managed species taken under an RSA unless:

(1) the operator of said vessel notifies the Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Conservation Police at 860-424-3503 prior to the vessel's departure and provides information that shall include, but not be limited to: the vessel's name; the vessel's federal permit number; the captain's name; the departure date and time; the estimated return date and time; the intended port of landing and the RSA species; and

(2) the operator of said vessel notifies the Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Conservation Police at 860-424-3503 not more than 24 hours after the completion of the trip and provides information that shall include, but not be limited to: the vessel's name; the vessel's federal permit number; the captain's name; the return date and time; the port of landing; the RSA species and the federal fishing vessel trip report serial number.

Acronyms

ASMFC – Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission

DEP – Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

FMP – Fisheries management plan

LCO – Legislative Commissioners' Office

LIS – Long Island Sound

LMA – Lobster management area

MAFMC – Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council

NMFS – National Marine Fisheries Service

(Adopted effective September 27, 2007; Amended December 22, 2008)