Publice Notice: Pertaining to Various Regulations December 2005


The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the proposed amendments to the regulations listed below.

In accordance with §28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed amendment will be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 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, January 23, 2006. 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 20-20-10 Et Seq., "Pertaining to the Licensing of Fixed Fishing Devices"

On December 20, 2005 the Commission adopted an Emergency amendment that exempts pound net fishermen, affected by Hurricane Isabel, from the priority rights requirements necessary for renewal of a pound net license in 2006. The Commission proposes to make this emergency amendment a permanent part of Regulation 4 VAC 20-20-10 et seq. The purpose for the amendment is to allow fishermen sufficient time to recover from the effects of Hurricane Isabel and resume normal pound net operations.

Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 Et Seq., "Pertaining to Black Sea Bass"

On December 20, 2005 the Commission adopted Emergency amendments that establish the commercial fishery quotas for 2005 as: 631,380 pounds for the directed fishery (a decrease of 10,943 pounds from 2005) and 118,082 pounds for the by-catch fishery (a decrease of 2,087 pounds from 2005). The Commission proposes to make this emergency amendment a permanent part of Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 et seq. The purpose for the amendment is to comply with the requirements of the joint federal-interstate management plan for this species.

Regulation 4 VAC 20-720-10 Et Seq., "Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest"

The Commission requests public comment on a proposal to open an area, in the upper James River seed area, encompassing the area from the current oyster management area, west to a line across the river from the entrance marker for Tyler's Beach, over to Swash's Island. The Commission also proposes to open approximately one-half of the closed area in the mouth of the Rappahannock River (an area from the Route 3 bridge to a line from Mosquito Bar Light to Sturgeon Bar Light) to hand scraping, for a 2-month season.

Regulation 4 VAC 20-530-10 Et Seq., "Pertaining to American Shad" 

The Commission proposes to establish a limited by-catch fishery for American shad. The location of the fishery would be above the first bridge in the James, York and Rappahannock rivers. A by-catch possession limit of 10 American shad per vessel would be limited to those fishermen using anchor gill net or stake gill net. The Commission will consider establishing a permit, for participation in this by-catch fishery, and the Commission will also consider establishing a daily call-in system for harvesters participating in the by-catch fishery. The purpose of the amendment is to eliminate waste associated with discards from these 2 gear types.

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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 (757) 247-2248 NO LESS THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEED.

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