The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the proposed amendments to regulations listed below.
In accordance with Section 28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held at 12:00 Noon, on Tuesday, November 24, 2009, at the Virginia 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, November 23, 2009.
Copies of the proposed regulations 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.
A) Chapter 4 VAC20-620-10 et seq. "Pertaining to Summer Flounder"
The Commission proposes to amend the above regulation, at the request of industry representatives, to 1) open the late-season offshore summer flounder fishery on the last Monday in November (November 30) and establish a 7,500-pound Virginia landing limit for that season. Currently, this fishery is scheduled to open the first Monday in December (December 7), and the vessel landing limit is 10,000 pounds; 2) lower the early-season (last Monday in February is the starting date) vessel landing limit, in Virginia, to 7,500 pounds. The current landing limit, in Virginia, is 12,500 pounds.
The Commission will also consider a proposal to modify the by-catch limit of summer flounder, from this offshore fishery. Currently, that by-catch limit is 10 percent, by weight, of all landed species on board a permitted vessel.
The Commission proposes to establish a 500 pound maximum by-catch limit of summer flounder, but may establish a lower or higher limit following the public hearing.
B) Chapter 4VAC20-252-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass"
The Commission proposes to establish the 2010 striped bass quota for the Chesapeake Area and amend overharvest penalties for commercially harvested striped bass.
1) A proposed amendment establishing the 2010 striped bass quota for the Chesapeake Area, providing 1,538,022 pounds to the recreational and commercial fisheries, respectively.
2) Amend 4 VAC 20-252-155: Individual transferable shares monitoring and penalties, from a matrix based upon an individual harvester's overage by percents to a matrix based upon discrete values in pounds.
C) Chapter 4VAC20-1190-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Gill Net Control Date, Limited Entry and Transfers"
The Commission proposes to establish a gill net vessel limit, whereby only one Class A gill net permittee or only one Class B gill net permittee, per vessel, may harvest by gill net, to prevent license stacking.
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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 BETTY WARREN (757-247-2248) NO LATER THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.
