Action Alert – Protect Shoreline Rights in Rhode Island
Last week the Rhode Island team posted about our work to protect shoreline access in Rhode Island by supporting ongoing legislation in H5469 and S0521, which will clarify where our Constitutional Rights to fish, forage and pass along Rhode Island’s shoreline can be practiced by establishing an easily identifiable boundary that is tied to the most recent high tide line. The lack of a clear boundary in Rhode Island law has led to challenges to shoreline use from “private” beach clubs, who seek to prevent the public from exercising their Constitutional Rights.
Last Friday, we hosted a conversation on this topic with Dennis Nixon, Professor Emeritus of Marine Affairs and Coastal Zone Law and RI Representative Terri Cortvriend (District 72, Portsmouth). You can watch the recording of that conversation on the Chapter’s YouTube page here.
Now, we need your voice to help protect and clarify our Constitutional Right to fish, forage and pass along Rhode Island’s shore by calling and emailing the Representatives and Senators who control the future of H5469 & S0521 and letting them know that they should support these bills.
Rhode Island House of Representatives – SUPPORT Bill H5469
Your State Representative
Bill Sponsor – Rep. Terri Cortvriend, [email protected]
Chair, House Judiciary Committee – Rep. Robert Craven, [email protected]
House Speaker – Rep. K. Joseph Shekarchi, [email protected]
Rhode Island Senate – SUPPORT Bill S521
Your State Senator
Bill Sponsor – Sen. Alana DiMario, [email protected]
Chair, Senate Judiciary Committee – Sen. Cynthia Coyne, [email protected]
Senate President – Sen. Dominick Ruggerio, [email protected]