The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on adoption of proposed amendment to the following Regulations:
4 VAC 20-620-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Summer Flounder",
4 VAC 20-910-10 et seq. , "Pertaining to Scup (Porgy) and
4 VAC 20-252-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass."
.Both current and proposed measures for commercial and recreational fisheries are shown below. Please note that size limits are minimum possession size limits
SPECIES | FISHERY | CURRENT MEASURE | PROPOSED MEASURE |
Summer flounder | Recreational | 14-inch minimum size | 14.5-inch minimum size |
Recreational | 8-fish possession limit | 10-fish possession limit | |
Commercial |
13-inch minimum size | 14-inch minimum size | |
Scup | Commercial | No quota | Landing quota of 4158 pounds for May 1 through October 31 period |
Striped bass | Recreational | No quota | 1,701,748 pounds |
Recreational | 107-day season for Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries | 120-day season for Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries |
|
Commercial |
1,384,000-pound quota | 1,701,748-pound quota- |
|
Both | Upstream Rappahannock River spawning reach boundary is Route 3 Bridge, Fredericksburg | Upstream Rappahannock River spawning reach as the Route 1 Falmouth Bridge |
In addition, the Commission invites public comment on a proposed regulation, Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Black Sea Bass." This regulation would establish a 9-inch minimum possession size limit for recreational and commercial fisheries and pot and trap escape vent requirements (2-inch diameter for round; 1.5-inch by 1.5-inch for square and 1 1/8-inch by 5 3/4-inch for rectangular escape vents). For the commercial fishery, degradable fasteners shall be required in pots and traps and the hinges or fasteners on one panel door, or a 3-inch by 6-inch panel, must be made of one of the following: 1) untreated hemp, jute or cotton string of 3/16-inch diameter, or less; 2) magnesium alloy, timed float releases (pop-up devices), or similar magnesium alloy fasteners; or, 3) ungalvanized, uncoated iron wire of 0.094-inch (2.4 millimeter) diameter.
Proposed management measures for summer flounder, scup and black sea bass represent requirements under joint Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council-Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Management Commission fishery management plans for these species. Proposed measures for striped bass are those allowed under the provisions of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass..
In accordance with §;28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on these proposed regulations will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 1997 at 12:00 NOON at the office of the Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia. Written comments should be provided to Jack Travelstead, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, P. O. Box 756, Newport News, VA, 23607, prior to 12:00 noon on February 24, 1997. Copies of the proposed regulation may be reviewed and copied at the offices of the Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, during Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the proposal may call the Commission at (804) 247-2248.
VMRC DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.
IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF A REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION DUE TO A DISABILITY,
PLEASE ADVISE DEBORAH CAWTHON (804) 247-2248 NO LESS THAN FIVE
WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING TIME AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEED.
