PLANS & STATISTICS

1-800-937-9247

CRAB DREDGE

 A letter was sent out to all crab dredge permittee's that have not sent their reports into the office for the 96/97 crab dredge season. If you did not work in the 96/97 season, you are not eligible to work in the upcoming season. If you crab dredged during the 96/97 season, and have not sent your reports into VMRC, you are very late and you need to get the reports into the office as soon as possible. Forms were sent out to provide you with a vehicle to explain why you did not work during the crab dredge season. Those forms need to be filled out and returned ATTN: Stephanie Iverson; PO Box 756; Newport News, VA 23607; by October 1, 1997. Please be aware of the deadline.

ANNUAL COMMERCIAL FISHERIES LANDINGS IN VA WATERS

 Enclosed in this issue of the newsletter is an annual report for Virginia landings covering 1995 and 1996. Overall landings for finfish and shellfish are up between the two years. Virginia total landings for finfish and shellfish totaled 83,404,240 pounds compared to 80,769,979 pounds for 1995. This represents an increase of approximately 3 million pounds.

Total finfish landings in Virginia for 1996 totaled 41,238,345 pounds and had a dockside value of $16, 445, 364. Virginia's 1995 landings were 38,799,255 pounds and a dockside value of $14,260,205. Virginia's 1996 commercial landings for shellfish totaled 42,165,895 pounds and had a dockside value of $53,055,695. Virginia's 1995 commercial landings for shellfish totaled 41,970,724 pounds and had a dockside value of $59,676,106.

  Landings are up but, shellfish in 1996 saw a slight decrease in dockside value of $6,620,411. Price per pound is the major factor in the decrease. On average, watermen were getting higher prices in 1995 than they received in 1996. Major shellfish landings (i.e. blue crab) increased by approximately 200,000 pounds from 1995 to 1996.

 Oyster landings are down by 66% from 1995 to 1996. In 1995 total landings were 401,889 pounds compared to 136,408 pounds in 1996. Oyster regulations play a factor in the decrease in landings.

HIGHLIGHTED SPECIES

"SPOT"

 Spot feed on small and minute crustaceans and worms, together with smaller amounts of small mollusk, fish, and vegetable debris. Spot is one of the most important fish foods found in the Chesapeake Bay next to the croaker. Spot is a very important recreational species with larger historic recreational landing than commercial landings. It is a schooling fish and a member of the drum family, but only the males are capable of a faint drumming sound similar to that of the Atlantic croaker.

 The species ranges from Massachusetts to Mexico, but its greatest abundance on the Atlantic coast is from Chesapeake Bay to the Carolinas. Spot can be found in the Bay from late March to November. They are most plentiful during September and October. Spot are most commonly caught in gill net, haul seine, and pound nets. (See table 1.) The only regulations that impact the spot fishery are no trawling in VA waters and minimum mesh sizes associated with major commercial gear types. Currently there are no regulations that require size limits or possession limits on spot in Virginia.

 The spot stock appears healthy. Commercial landings for spot exhibit year-to-year fluctuations with no apparent long-term trend. In the early 90's the landings increased, peaking in '94, and have decreased since that time. (See table 2.)

 Spot become sexually mature by the end of their second year or beginning of their third year. In 1996 VMRC stock assessment program collected biological information on a total of 13,234 spot. Total length ranged between 6" and 13". The average spot length was between 8" and 9", and the total average weight was 0.42 pounds.

 Spot is one of our most valuable and plentiful species in the Bay. It is a species that is still available to all commercial and recreational fishermen. Happy spot fishing!!!

OFFSHORE REPORTS

We would like to thank those offshore watermen who have been reporting their data. Just a reminder: offshore data is not required in the mandatory reporting project. If you would like to send the information to us, we appreciate it, but clearly indicate it is offshore. Thank you for your cooperation.

MANDATORY REPORTING UPGRADES

Since the Mandatory Reporting Program has been in effect we have streamlined mailing the reporting forms you receive. Based on your reporting history we have assessed whether you work 0;3;6;9;or 12 months out of the year. All watermen have been placed in these five categories, and supplies are mailed once a year. By using this system we have saved substantial funds in manpower and postage. If you need additional supplies during the year you can call, 1-800-937-9247, and leave a detailed message on exactly what you need 24hrs a day; 7-days a week.

We have added an additional feature to our system. When we receive your reports we check them to see if any information is missing. You will be receiving a letter, letting you know what is needed. We have several letters that can be automatically generated. This was added to improve the quality of data we receive. Some common mistakes are:

 1) Putting multiple gears and water bodies on the same ticket. We do not know what species came out of what gear and what waterbody the gear was fishing;

 2) Leaving the "hours fished" off the ticket: We need the hours your gear was in the water, not the number of hours it takes you to pull your gear.

 3) Putting multiple days worth of data on the "daily" tickets instead of indicating a daily take for the species.

 4) Reports received after the 5th of the month.

 Presently, Virginia landings are current, if reports are received in a timely manner as required by the 5th of the month. All data is available for analysis and preliminary reports within a month.

COMPLIANCE PROGRAM

Since 1993, the Mandatory Reporting Compliance Program has been working with industry, members of VMRC Law Enforcement and watermen to insure harvest reports are being received and kept within the guidelines set forth by regulation. Several individuals who violated Regulation 4VAC20-610-10 ET SEQ. have been required to appear before the Commission which has resulted in some cases in the suspension of license, probation and fines.

For the majority of commercial watermen, their reports are received in a timely manner and on the necessary paperwork. However, there are always a few individuals who are brought before the Commission for failure to report. For those individuals who appear before the Commission, the Compliance Program shows just cause for their appearance.

If you should have questions or problems with reporting your harvest, please contact us at 1-800-937-9247 by leaving your name, telephone number and message and someone will return your call. If your group would like to have someone discuss the reporting program please call us at the same number.

REGULATION CHANGES

Below, you will find a summary of recent regulations enacted by the Commission, in addition to announcements of upcoming public hearings.

Spadefish - 6 fish possession limit for recreational fishermen; 6 fish possession limit with a sunset clause of October 1, 1997, for commercial hook and line watermen. Finfish Management Advisory Committee (FMAC) will conduct a study to evaluate all limits on the commercial hook and line fishery.

Shellfish - New regulation adopted: 4VAC20-980-10 et seq. "Pertaining to On-shore Loading and Unloading of Shellfish from Condemned Areas"

The following locations shall be designated for the on-shore loading and unloading of clams taken from condemned areas:

The following locations shall be designated for the on-shore loading and unloading of oysters taken from condemned areas:

Crabs - 4VAC20-270-40. Season Limits: "It shall be unlawful for any person to place, set, fish or knowingly leave any hard crab pot or peeler pot in any tidal waters of Virginia from December 1 through March 31."

4VAC20-370-20. Where crabs are culled: "All crabs taken from the tidal waters of Virginia shall be culled to the legal size and possession limits by the catcher at the location of the harvest. During culling, all undersized crabs shall be returned immediately to the water as required by Section 28.2-708 of the Code of Virginia."

4VAC20-700-20. Cull Ring Requirement: "The required 2-5/16 inches inside diameter cull ring may be obstructed in crab pots set within the crab dredge areas, as set forth in 4VAC20-90-10 et seq., or on the seaside of Accomack and Northampton Counties or within Pocomoke or Tangier Sounds proper. Any crab pot set within any tributary or subtributary of Pocomoke or Tangier Sound may not contain any obstructed cull rings."

Public Hearings: July 22, 1997 - Amendment to Regulation 4VAC20-890-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Channeled Whelk."

Eastern Shore Bayside Management Area - proposed changes to Regulation 4VAC20-480-10 et seq. will come before a public hearing in August.

Proposals include:1) enlarging existing management areas and 2) adding new ones to serve as gill net free areas.

 For years, biologists, fishery managers, and user groups have recognized that the best available fisheries data are not good enough to achieve our common goals of protecting, restoring and conserving marine resources.

For example, management of bluefish, a migratory species ranging from Maine to Florida, has been seriously hampered by a lack of adequate length and age data. Such problems contribute to a high degree of uncertainty and distrust in stock assessments, upon which management decisions are based. Frustration over this and similar problems have prompted federal, regional and state fishery agencies along the Atlantic coast to join forces with fishermen to improve the situation.

The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP), a cooperative state-federal marine and coastal fisheries data collection program, is bringing fishermen and managers together to design a system that is workable, consistent and effective all along the Atlantic coast.

The ACCSP is currently investigating the successes, problems and redundancies of existing fisheries data collection programs. Input is being sought from all interested user groups to ensure that ACCSP meets the needs of a coastwide data collection and management system. Ideas given at public meetings or in writing to the ACCSP Program Manager will ensure that future data collections processors will incorporate the everyday, real-world concerns of fishermen and managers.

The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program is a cooperative effort among federal and state fisheries managers and commercial and recreational fishermen to coordinate and improve data collection activities on the Atlantic coast. The ACCSP is being designed over four phases. Phase I included collecting background information and identifying data to be collected. Phase II included investigating how that data will be collected. In Phase III plan details will be developed and data management systems will be discussed. In Phase IV the data management system will be finalized and plans set for the implementation. Each phase includes a technical, advisory, and public input component. The ACCSP is currently gathering public input for the second phase of the project.

The mission of those working on the ACCSP is to simplify the effort involved in reporting fishing data, while at the same time, improving the types and amounts of data collected so that fair and reasonable management decisions can be made. Where possible, the ACCSP will eliminate duplication in collecting information. The program will set standards for data collection and management so that resource managers, fishermen, and seafood markets can make better decisions.

A team of scientists, resource managers, economists, sociologists and fishermen are working on the project. Development teams for the ACCSP were selected from state, regional and federal agencies and fishing industry groups. As work continues, recommendations regarding the design of the ACCSP are being distributed to the public for comment. All ideas are being considered so that the plan meets the needs of fisheries managers and all users of marine resources.

Under current data collection programs fishermen are often required to provide the same information to various agencies by filling out separate data sheets or logbooks. One goal is to have marine resources users provide information to one system. With the cooperation of all involved, the data from recreational and commercial fishermen will be consistent, accurate and timely. Then it will be fed into a data management system from which anyone can access and use that information. Provisions will be made to ensure appropriate confidentiality.

With better information, fisheries managers can make better decisions. And better decisions should mean more fish -- a direct benefit to commercial and recreational fishermen.

The ACCSP is being designed in steps because of the number of problems it is trying to address. In the first phase, finished in February 1997, the development teams decided what minimum standard catch, effort, biological, social and economic data needed to be collected.

Currently, the teams are investigating how to:

The technical team recommended a mandatory reporting system that would require all fishermen and dealers to provide standard data and report on a generic data form. The term "dealer" was defined to ensure complete reporting of all commercial landings, including purchase and transport of landings.

The technical team recognized that problems exist with large volume fisheries (e.g. lobster and blue crabs) and modifications may be needed to address these fisheries.

This system will have built-in verification because of the data required from fishermen and dealers. Various methods will be used to verify other data elements, such as fishing location, gear used, fishing time, etc.

Verification methods could include:

• consistent law enforcement;
• independent surveys; and
• methods designed specifically for self-reported data.

 Details of the program design will be finished by June 1997.

 The team looking at recreational fisheries recognized that identification of recreational participants and vessels is essential to collect accurate and complete information. A list will be maintained of:

• recreational consumptive users of marine resources, (for example, individual state permits);
• for-hire marine recreational fishing vessels; and
• marine recreational fishing access sites, including private and public sites.

 A baseline set of data would be collected by all Atlantic states and federal agencies to provide consistency. Data collection methods were recommended for the following types of recreational fishing:

 private and rental boats;

• shore fisheries (piers and docks, other man-made shore and natural shore); and
• for-hire fisheries (charterboats, headboats, and guideboats).

For private and rental boats and shore-based anglers, some combination of site-intercept surveys and telephone surveys will be used to collect catch and effort data. For for-hire fisheries, the use of logbook reporting and/or site intercept/telephone surveys will be evaluated and the preferred method used.

The committees also recommended:

• development of commercial and recreational quota monitoring programs. This could include a coastwide call-in system for commercial dealers to report their total landings;
• developing a coastwide bycatch monitoring program which will include reporting of recreational discard information and possible development of a coastwide at-sea observer program; and
• expanding collection of biological data.

 Some state and federal agencies will require statutory and regulatory changes to implement the program. This information has been compiled and will be forwarded through the ACCSP to appropriate state and federal representatives for consideration.

Once recreational and commercial plans have been approved, work will begin on the details. That includes the development of quality control features for data collection, recommendations on timeliness of data submission and dissemination, and development of standard data collection forms. Work will also begin on developing the data collection programs for social, economic and bycatch information. Consultants will be used in the final design of the data management system.

 The ACCSP will be implemented by the Atlantic state, regional and federal fisheries management agencies who have agreed to work together on this data collection and management system. Representatives from all segments of the fishing industry are directly involved in designing and implementing this program. The ACCSP Implementation Plan is still in the works.

It is important that the ACCSP be designed not only to meet the needs of fisheries scientists and managers, but also the fishermen and fishing industry who provided the needed information.

To make the ACCSP successful and effective, it is important that as much input as possible be given prior to final design. Public input will be gathered on all aspects of the ACCSP.

For more information or to receive a copy of the Technical Source Document which details the program design, contact the ACCSP Program Manager at the number below.

If you are interested in speaking personally with the fishing industry representative from your state who is participating in the design of this program or would like to talk more about the program, call ACCSP Program Manager, Connie Young-Dubovsky, (202)289-6400. Written comments may be sent to ACCSP Program Manager, 1444 Eye St. N.W., Sixth Floor, Washington, D.C. 20005.

As you can see from the preceding comments, reporting for all watermen is about to become very uniformed and detailed. The Virginia Mandatory Reporting Program was one of the building models for the ACCSP document. It has most of the components that the ACCSP document wants to capture. It is a very universal form, any watermen using any type of gear will be able to use the form currently used in Virginia.

The Virginia Mandatory Reporting Program has been in effect since January 1, 1993. We have worked the majority of the bugs out of our program. Watermen have become familiar with the reporting forms and what information should be on the forms. Our transition will not be as difficult as a state which has no reporting program at all.

VIRGINIA'S TIDAL WATERS

* - Changes since last newsletter

*BILLFISHES(Sailfish, White marlin, Blue marlin, Longbill spearfish) -

Reg. 4VAC20-350-10 et seq.

PROHIBITION OF SALE. Unlawful for any person to buy, sell, offer for sale, possess with intent to sell, barter or exchange billfish.

*SPADEFISH - Reg. 4VAC20-970-10 et seq.

Possession Limit... All hook & line and spear fishermen are limited to 6 spadefish per person.

*TAUTOG - Reg. 4VAC20-960-10 et seq.

Minimum Size Limit...13 inches total length. (See regulation for details of fish pot restrictions)

VMRC - Virginia Marine Resources Commission. Meetings set as 4th Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. (fisheries items are generally considered after 12 noon). Held at Commission Main office.

 CLAM - Clam Management Advisory Committee. Meetings to be announced. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. Held at Commission Main office.

 BLUECRAB - Blue Crab Management Advisory Committee. Meetings to be announced. Held at Commission Main office.

 SHELLFISH - Shellfish Management Advisory Committee. Meetings will be held quarterly (February-April-July-October). Held at VIMS, Gloucester Point, VA.

 RFAB - VMRC Recreational Fishing Advisory Board. Meeting generally begin 7 p.m. Held at Commission Main office.

 ESORC - Seaside Eastern Shore Oyster Replenishment Committee. Meetings to be announced. Held at VIMS in Wachapreague, VA.

 LRC - Living Resources Committee. Meetings held the 3rd Tuesday of each month at Chesapeake Bay Program Office, Annapolis, MD.

 RHD - Reef Habitat Development Subcommittee. Chesapeake Bay Program Office, Annapolis, MD.

 ISSC - Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference. Call Mr. Ken Moore (803) 788-7559 for more information. Conference held in Sturbridge, MA.

NOTE: Committee Dates are tentative. Check with VMRC Fisheries Management Division to verify date, time, and place, (757)247-2200. Shellfish Committee and Seaside Eastern Shore Oyster Replenishment Committee meetings - verify date, time and place by calling 757-247-2120