I think there’s going to be a lot of collateral damage if we close areas. Generally good stewards of nature are going to be affected by this — guys that go down there, like myself.”

— TJ Harris, of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team

It’s getting crazy down there. I agree this seems a little heavy handed, but that’s why these are public hearings.”

— Councilor David Paull

Restricting parking in both Fogland and Stone Bridge, especially at night, is going to be a restriction that prohibits many people from accessing something that they enjoy.”

— Scott Travers, Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association

A steady stream of fishermen gave the Tiverton Town Council an earful Monday night over proposed ordinance changes that would restrict fishing at some of the town’s most popular areas, and impose fees and fines for parking at Grinnell’s and Fogland beaches.

The amendments, developed through discussions with councilors, the police chief and members of the recreation department, are the early steps taken by the town to control the increase in litter, congestion and bad behavior that councilors said has increased over the past few years. If passed, they would prohibit fishing at Fogland and Grinnell’s Beach, except in designated areas, and would prohibit all fishing on the Stone Bridge walkway and abutment. Fines would be established for those who violate the rules.

Another ordinance amendment regulates vehicle parking at Grinnell’s and Fogland beaches, requiring parking fees or passes from May to October. The ordinance also prohibits parking at any town beach from 10 p.m. through 7 a.m.

Councilors stressed to the half-full audience that the amendments are just a starting point, and there is work to be done before any changes are put in place — “we never meant for this to be written in stone, but it’s a place where we have to start and go from there,” council president Denise DeMedeiros said.

“The fishermen just need to be respectful (and) that wasn’t happening last summer. We had to start somewhere.”

“It’s getting crazy down there,” added councilor David Paull of Grinnell’s. “I agree this seems a little heavy handed, but that’s why these are public hearings.”

Angry anglers

But anglers told the town that any amendments that further restrict access to fisherman will be a non-starter in their eyes.

“You folks have an enforcement problem, cut and dry,” said fisherman Jeff Gross, a former Tiverton resident.

“Litter is a $200 fine. Beer, open containers in public, is an arrestable offense. Open burning ... is a finable offense. But hey Democrats, let’s ban and restrict the good people and good fishermen in this audience.”

The Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association advocates for fishermen across the state, and two officials from the organization implored councilors to think about those who respectfully fish Tiverton waters before passing regulations that would restrict their right to cast a line. Compromise is key, they said, and one suggested in particular that permits or parking passes be made available for fishermen who want to go to Fogland, Grinnell’s or Stone beach after hours. Other towns, and Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge, already have similar measures in place.

“Fogland, Grinnell’s and Stone Bridge abutment are historically fishing areas,” the association’s executive director, Scott Travers, said.

“I hope you reconsider these ordinances, because restricting fishing and restricting parking in both Fogland and Stone Bridge, especially at night, is going to be a restriction that prohibits many people from accessing something that they enjoy and something that they use as protein. This is something that people have done for decades at both locations.”

Fishermen also took issue with some claims that fishermen have contributed to the growing issues of unruliness and litter plaguing the town beaches. While some undoubtedly do litter, anglers’ association first vice chairman Rich Hittinger said, “we try and make people understand that they do need to take out all their trash. They need to be good neighbors.”

“I think there’s going to be a lot of collateral damage if we close areas,” added Middletown resident TJ Harris, of the Aquidneck Island Striper Team. “Generally good stewards of nature are going to be affected by this — guys that go down there, like myself.”

Restricting areas will also have a domino affect, he predicted, increasing pressure on other fishing areas that are already over-crowded as well.

“If we close that area to fishing,” he said of Stone Bridge and Grinnell’s, “a lot of other local areas would suffer, along with anglers.

Hearing continued

Councilors ultimately decided to continue their discussion until their next meeting, and in the meantime will work to re-shape the proposed amendments to better address the issue and anglers’ concerns. Still, councilor David Paull said something needs to be done.

“This is really a three-legged issue, one of them being parking,” he said. The other issue is enforcement,” and the lack of teeth police have at their disposal to penalize those who break the town’s rules.

“I don’t think we should be restricting,” he said. “I just think we should work together and come up with some type of a solution.”