RI bans felt in fresh and SALTWATER!!

[TEAM7x]

As of 1/1/2012, RIDEM's regulations prohibit felt soled wading shoes in both fresh and SALTWATER. Amazingly this new regulation somehow appeared without the slightest advance notice and little public comment. Leaders of RI's largest fishing groups, RISAA and others had no knowledge of this when I asked for their position.

A total of THREE states as of this date have banned felt, but SALTWATER? In fact many states recommend washing felt soled boots and other wading gear in a SALT SOLUTION to control invasives. NO didymo has been confirmed in RI fresh waters, and the banning of felt in the salt is patently absurd. What's worse is that few anglers know of this regulation which goes into effect in just a few days.

http://team7x.com


FROM the REGULATIONS on RIDEM website:

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

FISH AND WILDLIFE

RHODE ISLAND

FRESHWATER AND ANADROMOUS

FISHING REGULATIONS for the 2012 – 2013 SEASON



1.17 It is prohibited that any person use foot gear with external felt soles in any state waters, inclusive of freshwater, tidal, or marine. This shall include any waters shared with adjacent states in which any Rhode Island Fishing Regulations apply.​

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Remember that Didymo is one of several known issues that can be transferred easily with felt soled waders. While I don't know what factors RI's decision was based on for saltwater, there may be concern over the disease present in saltwater and fresh that showed up in hatcheries like the Connettquot on Long Island. Don't know.

 

[BRK TRT]

I think states that have a large population adapt felt sole bans.
Slipping and falling and breaking your neck will help overcome high populations.


Brk Trt

 

[Joe D]

Maryland, Vermont & Alaska have also banned felt soles. Like Rhode Island, Maryland also extends the ban to saltwater.

 

[Ronbo]

I just purchased wading boots and chose rubber soles with the steel cleat option.,
I am anticipating more states to follow. NY already has didymo and may soon follow.

 

[Joe D]

The states without didymo, mud snails, vhs, whirling disease and other aquatic invasives that can be spread by felt soles should impose a ban to help slow down their spread.

The states with didymo, mud snails, vhs, whirling disease and other aquatic invasives that can be spread by felt soles should impose a ban to help slow down their spread.

 

[TEAM7x]

Maryland's ban extends to saltwater simply because they state: "it's simpler to enforce rather than distinguishing between fresh water and salt water anglers." Maryland has expressed no other reasonable reason as to the salt water ban.

Missouri in a release recommends waders etc. "be washed in a 5% salt water solution" to control spread of fresh water invasives.

RI has NOT identified to public knowledge any presence of invasives, didymo or other.

 

[GARYB]

I'm not sure how much rubber soles makes a difference, a lot of the manufacturers are going
back to felt boots. Never mind the rubber shoes are useless on freestone rivers.
As far as Rhode Island, I never even heard of any trout rivers worth a salt.

 

[Joe D]

The cost of invasive species can run in the hundreds of millions of dollars. They compete with native species and upset the balance of native benthic organisms.

It looks like RI doesn't want to wait until a problem is firmly established before imposing preventative measures. Asians clams have already invaded some of the states waterways along with numerous destructive invasive water plants.

On the marine front invasive species like red algae, several tunicate members, Asian and European crabs, and shellfish diseases are already present. The pathogens Dermo and MSX have nearly wiped out the oysters in Chesapeake Bay and Dermo & MSX are already in RI.

Banning felt soles isn't the solution, but it is part of the big picture of prevention and control along with higher standards imposed on commercial ships and recreational boaters.

Recommendations on cleaning fishing tackle and gear are nice but unfortunately they're seldom followed thus it becomes necessary to limit gear that can easily harbor invasives. Rhode Island has taken this route along with three other states.

But changing gear doesn't eliminate the need to be vigilant and still clean equipment between waterways. The US Fish & Wildlife Service publishes some Prevention Procedures for stopping aquatic invasive species. If they were followed by everyone there wouldn't be a need to ban felt.

I made the switch to rubber soles and when needed studded rubber. The non-studded soles are not as good as felt but with careful wading and using a staff when I didn't before I can get by. I can't always wade were I could before and in retrospect I probably shouldn't had been wading in those places and conditions anyway. They take some getting used to in the water but also make bank walking much easier.

In the end, if ditching the felt soles prevents or delays just one invasion I can live with it.

 

[BRK TRT]

Why don't we stop the invasives at the source. The ships that visit our ports every day.
The shipping companies should be required to clean their ships before docking.


Brk Trt

 

[Joe D]

Let's look forward to what we can do rather than what we didn't do.

Ships ballast water, hulls and cargo are one source of invasive species and there have been changes made in how these are managed though there's still room for improvement. Some invasive species have been brought in intentionally. What's done is done. All we can do now is fix the problems as best as possible and do our part to keep from spreading them around.

Aquaculture, including sport fish hatcheries, have also been big culprits in the past.

 

[TEAM7x]

Interesting...your own state of NY hasn't banned felt soles when didymo has been confirmed as I understand it. Here's NY's position:

DEC officials have discussed implementing a ban on felt soles, but Assistant Director of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources Doug Stang said "at this time" there are no plans to ban felt-soled boots and waders.
"(A ban) has been discussed by our fisheries staff, but we decided to increase outreach efforts via the DEC website and in the fishing guide regarding the spread of didymo and other invasive species," said Stang, a former DEC fisheries bureau chief.

In RI, NO effort to educate and inform has taken place and very few wading fisher persons became aware of this 1/1/2012 regulation only days ago. Many have no clue about this I'm sure, since RIDEM is treating this like a secret.

Overkill and a rush to judgement in RI's case.

Let's look forward to what we can do rather than what we didn't do.

Ships ballast water, hulls and cargo are one source of invasive species and there have been changes made in how these are managed though there's still room for improvement. Some invasive species have been brought in intentionally. What's done is done. All we can do now is fix the problems as best as possible and do our part to keep from spreading them around.

Aquaculture, including sport fish hatcheries, have also been big culprits in the past.

 

[tomfly]

In RI, NO effort to educate and inform has taken place and very few wading fisher persons became aware of this 1/1/2012 regulation only days ago. Many have no clue about this I'm sure, since RIDEM is treating this like a secret.Overkill and a rush to judgement in RI's case.

I have posted previously on this issue. Some of you are aware on where I stand on banning felt. As more legs and rods are broken. Some of you will change also. As I stated previously; my cousin is a biologists and conclusive tests show that didymo is present in most rivers and streams. It is prevalent in <acronym title="New Jersey"><acronym title="New Jersey">NJ</acronym></acronym>, but <acronym title="New Jersey"><acronym title="New Jersey">NJ</acronym></acronym> has not had the prolific blooms. He said that there is a trigger mechanism that does not occur in all streams. He also told me they do not fully understand what the mechanism is.

This proves that it is not an environmental issue. This is money issue.

“NO effort to educate and inform has taken place and very few wading fisher persons became aware of this 1/1/2012 regulation only days ago. Many have no clue about this I'm sure, since RIDEM is treating this like a secret.”

Fact 1: RI is broke and on the verge of bankruptcy. Another nonsense regulation with a fine attached to it will produce revenue. Why tell anybody about the regulation. It would not be in their best interests. The less amount of the population that know of the reg. The more revenue in fines the can obtain.

Fact 2: It is an election year to ensue votes from the loon environmentalist. They will appease them.

 

[TEAM7x]

As to point two, the Director, appointed last January is a former state Nature Conservancy Director, so not surprising on the environmental front. 2012 is NOT an election year for state offices in RI, but for General Assembly only.

Point one is a bit overstated. RI is not broke, nor on the verge of bankrupcy any more than NJ was a few years back. I haven't had a RIDEM officer license check me in 35 years, nor has any of my fishing friends, so enforcement is questionable. Those that do get "trapped" will likely be those who are on-stream daily. There's not a lot of transferring between watersheds in RI, there aren't many. It's the saltwater part that is way over the top!

 

[Future Fanatic]

my cousin is a biologists and conclusive tests show that didymo is present in most rivers and streams. It is prevalent in <acronym title="New Jersey"><acronym title="New Jersey">NJ</acronym></acronym>, but <acronym title="New Jersey"><acronym title="New Jersey">NJ</acronym></acronym> has not had the prolific blooms. He said that there is a trigger mechanism that does not occur in all streams. He also told me they do not fully understand what the mechanism is.

This proves that it is not an environmental issue.

No it doesn't.

(I sure am glad you're not a judge).

 

[Joe D]

TAEM7x, if I understand you correctly, since NY (not my state btw) didn't ban felt soles to prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance and invasive species then RI shouldn't either.

The felt ban in RI comes after many people, including fly fishermen in that state fought to get the legislation through. They are concerned about nasty things being introduced to Rhode Islands water. Not a big secret. It's been all a matter of public record.

When compared to other states, RI has less problems with aquatic invasives in their freshwaters. They choose to enact a law to try and it keep it that way. If you don't like it then don't fish there. Perhaps if NY banned felt before there was a problem there wouldn't be a problem today.

 

[tomfly]

No it doesn't.

(I sure am glad you're not a judge).

There you go again taking my statement out of context.
If you actually read it. I was referring to this.

“NO effort to educate and inform has taken place and very few wading fisher persons became aware of this 1/1/2012 regulation only days ago. Many have no clue about this I'm sure, since RIDEM is treating this like a secret.”

Try not to be a closed minded for once in your life. But I still think you are ok in my book.

 

[lunker]

What do you dip wads know? You don't even live in this state. And maybe drive thru once or twice a year on your way to Maine. Shot your pie holes.