NOTICE
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the proposals listed below.
In accordance with §28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public
hearing on the proposals will be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday,
February 27, 2007 at the Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington
Avenue, Newport News, Virginia. Written comments on the proposals
should be mailed to Jack Travelstead, VMRC Fisheries Management
Division, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, Virginia
23607, by 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 26, 2007. Copies of the
proposed amendments may be reviewed at the Commission Monday through
Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and may be obtained by calling the
Commission at (757) 247-2248.
Regulation 4 VAC 20-620-10 Et Seq., “Pertaining to Summer Flounder”
The Commission invites public comments on four equivalent
conservational options designed to achieve the Virginia recreational
summer flounder 2007 target landings of 407,525 fish. This target
is established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and
represents a 53 percent reduction from the 2006 recreational landings
of summer flounder. The four options are as follows:
Option | Minimum Size Limit | Possession Limit | Closed Season(s) |
Option 1 | 19 inches | 6 fish | None |
Option 2 |
18 ½ inches | 5 fish | January 1 – March 31 AND July 23 through July 28 |
Option 3 | 18 ½ inches | 3 fish | NONE |
Option 4 | 18 inches | 2 fish | January 1 through March 31 AND July 16 through July 31 |
Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 Et Seq., “Pertaining to Black Sea Bass”
On January 23, 2007, the Commission adopted Emergency amendments that
establish the 2007 commercial black sea bass directed fishery quota as
412,470 pounds and the 2007 commercial black sea bass by-catch fishery
quota as 45,830 pounds. On February 27, 2007, the Commission proposes
to consider adopting these quotas, as a permanent part of Regulation 4
VAC 20-950-10 et seq., but will also consider alternate methods for
allocation of the 2007 total commercial harvest quota between the
directed and by-catch fisheries. Another emergency amendment provides
that pots set and fished for black sea bass shall contain two escape
vents of 2 1/2 inches diameter circular dimension, 2 inches square
dimension, or 1 3/8 inches by 5 3/4 inches rectangular dimension.
Previously, only one escape vent of 2 3/8 inches diameter circular
dimension, 2 inches square dimension, or 1 3/8 inches by 5 3/4 inches
rectangular dimension was required. One other amendment to this
regulation establishes that no authorization for an alternate vessel to
land black sea bass shall extend for more than 60 days from the date
the Commissioner approves the authorization. The Commission proposes to
make these amendments a permanent part of Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 et
seq., at its February 27, 2007 meeting. The purpose of these
amendments, effective February 1, 2007, is to comply with the federal
or interstate management plans.
Regulation 4 VAC 20-530-10 Et Seq., “Pertaining to American Shad”
On January 23, 2007, the Commission adopted Emergency amendments that
establish the 2007 American shad by-catch and limited spawning reaches
by-catch fisheries as the same as they were in 2006. Only anchor and
staked gill nets may be used by qualifying commercial registered
fishermen. Ten American shad per vessel are allowed, as the
possession limit in the by-catch areas, and five American shad per
vessel are allowed, as the possession limit in the spawning reaches. It
shall be unlawful for any person to possess aboard a vessel or land any
American shad, unless that person possesses at least an equal number of
fish of only the following food-grade species: spot, croaker,
bluefish, catfish, striped bass or white perch. The Commission proposes
to consider these emergency amendments, as well as management measures
that would be similar to those cited above but would also allow the use
of pound nets and drift gill nets within the by-catch fisheries and
allow a by-catch allowance of 10 American Shad per permitted fisherman
in the by-catch areas and 5 American shad per person in the spawning
reaches. In addition, as a third option, the Commission proposes
to consider not establishing an American shad by-catch fishery in 2007.
Season Established for Relaying Shellfish From Condemned Private Grounds
The current season for the removal or relaying of shellfish from
private grounds is April 1 to November 1. The Commission proposes to
modify this season and establish it as February 1 to November 1. The
Commission, under Section 28.2-816 of the Code of Virginia, may change
the opening or closing dates of this season.
Virginia Seafood Council Aquaculture Experiment
On February 27, 2007, the Commission will review the Virginia Seafood
Council proposal for continuing aquaculture experiments with the
triploid non-native oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis.
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VMRC DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES; THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO A DISABILITY, PLEASE ADVISE BRANDY BATTLE (757) 247-2248 NO LATER THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.