Public Notice: Pertaining to Hook-and-Line Fishing 2000

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on proposed amendments to Regulation 4 VAC 20-995-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Commercial Hook-and-Line Fishing"; Regulation 4 VAC 20-252-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Striped Bass"; and, Regulation 4 VAC 20-755-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Artificial Reefs." The proposed amendments are described below.

In accordance with Section 28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed amendments will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, October 24, 2000, 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-3rd Floor, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia 23607. 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.

Proposed Amendments: 

1) Establish the maximum number of general commercial hook-and-line licenses at 200. 

2) Allow for the replacement of general commercial hook-and-line licenses annually by random drawing when the number of licenses falls below the maximum number allowed. 

3) Limit the sale of general commercial hook-and-line licenses to registered commercial fishermen who have documented through the Commission's mandatory harvest reporting program the sale of at least 1000 pounds of seafood over the previous two years. 

4) Provide for the transfer of general commercial hook-and-line licenses only to registered commercial fishermen who have documented through the Commission's mandatory harvest reporting program the sale of at least 1000 pounds of seafood over the previous two years. Transfers of licenses between family members shall be exempt from this requirement. 

5) Require each commercial hook-and-line vessel to display identifying license plates, provided by the Commission, on the port and starboard sides of the vessel when on a commercial fishing trip. 

6) Prohibit recreational fishing on any commercial hook-and-line vessel during a commercial fishing trip.

7) Require commercial hook and line fishermen to register their crew members with the Commission annually in advance of any fishing. Allow for changes to the registration list twice per year and provide that one crew person per vessel need not be registered. 

8) Prohibit the harvest of black drum by commercial hook-and-line within 300 yards of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel at any time. 

9) Increase the time period during which striped bass may be harvested by commercial hook-and-line within 300 feet of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel during the open recreational fishing season from midnight Sunday through midnight Wednesday to a longer period of midnight Sunday through 6:00 a.m. Friday. 

10) Prohibit all commercial fishing on the following artificial fishing reefs: 

a) Back River Reef centered at Latitude 37 08.2N, Longitude 76 13.9W 

b) Cabbage Patch Reef centered at Latitude 37 10 15N, Longitude 76 02 33W 

c) Cherrystone Reef centered at Latitude 37 19 04 N, Longitude 76 02 33W 

d) East Ocean View Reef centered at Latitude 36 56 32.5 N, Longitude 76 12 11.5W 

e) Middle Ground Reef centered at Latitude 36 56.7 N, Longitude 76 23.5W 

f) Nassawadox Reef centered at Latitude 37 29 33N, Longitude 76 00 57W 

g) Occohannock Reef centered at Latitude 37 34.35N, Longitude 76 00.70W 

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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 TIME AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEED.


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