These data were collected for use in of the RI Coastal Resource Management Council's Ocean Special Area Management Plan planning process and were also intended as an update and refinement to a similar set of maps created in 2004 by New England regional Sea Grant. This data layer was developed from September 2008 - January 2009, published in February 2009 and reviewed by fishermen and updated a final time in September - October 2009. Data were collected through interviews and mapping exercises conducted in person, both one-on-one and in small groups, with representatives of the RI Fishermen's Alliance, independent fishermen, and unaffiliated fishermen. Other RI fishermen's associations participated in the Ocean SAMP stakeholder process but, to date, have not yet participated in the data collection effort.

In each interview, fishermen were first given a brief introduction to the RI Ocean SAMP planning process and shown NOAA nautical charts of the SAMP area. Researchers then asked the fishermen to describe where they fish, and to draw polygons encompassing these areas on the nautical charts. Fishermen were then asked follow-up questions about these areas, including (1) During which seasons do you fish in each area?; (2) With what gear?; and in some cases (3) What are your target species in each area? Following these meetings, data were aggregated onto one set of charts, which were then compared with the 2004 maps to corroborate the current information. Charts were then scanned and georeferenced and polygons were digitized in order to create Geographic Information Systems (GIS) shapefiles. Attribute fields were created for the data layers to record available information about seasonality and gear type. It should be noted that this dataset has some limitations and data may be incomplete. In addition, these data do not include out-of-state fisheries which may be conducted within the SAMP area, such as the herring mid-water trawling fishery based out of other New England ports.

These data were collected for use in of the RI Coastal Resource Management Council's Ocean Special Area Management Plan planning process and were also intended as an update and refinement to a similar set of maps created in 2004 by New England regional Sea Grant. This data layer was developed from September 2008 - January 2009, published in February 2009 and reviewed by fishermen and updated a final time in September - October 2009. Data were collected through interviews and mapping exercises conducted in person, both one-on-one and in small groups, with representatives of the RI Fishermen's Alliance, independent fishermen, and unaffiliated fishermen. Other RI fishermen's associations participated in the Ocean SAMP stakeholder process but, to date, have not yet participated in the data collection effort.

In each interview, fishermen were first given a brief introduction to the RI Ocean SAMP planning process and shown NOAA nautical charts of the SAMP area. Researchers then asked the fishermen to describe where they fish, and to draw polygons encompassing these areas on the nautical charts. Fishermen were then asked follow-up questions about these areas, including (1) During which seasons do you fish in each area?; (2) With what gear?; and in some cases (3) What are your target species in each area? Following these meetings, data were aggregated onto one set of charts, which were then compared with the 2004 maps to corroborate the current information. Charts were then scanned and georeferenced and polygons were digitized in order to create Geographic Information Systems (GIS) shapefiles. Attribute fields were created for the data layers to record available information about seasonality and gear type. It should be noted that this dataset has some limitations and data may be incomplete. In addition, these data do not include out-of-state fisheries which may be conducted within the SAMP area, such as the herring mid-water trawling fishery based out of other New England ports.