December 21, 2022: Effective 12:01 A.M., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), Sunday, January 1, 2023, the Virginia Commercial Atlantic Croaker Fishery will close. The fishery will remain closed until January 15, 2023. [ Notice ]
December 21, 2022: VMRC will be closed December 23rd (Friday) and December 26th (Monday) for the holiday.
December 13, 2022: 9 Atlantic states, including Virginia, have been advancing an initiative to establish a regional fund administrator for fisheries compensatory mitigation which would provide financial compensation for economic loss from offshore wind development off the Atlantic Coast and are seeking input through a Request for Information (RFI). Through the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program, the Commonwealth has supported the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) to coordinate a critical group of commercial fisheries advisors to provide initial feedback on the States' scoping effort and RFI. [ Press Release ]
December 8, 2022: Results of the December 6th Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
December 6, 2022: Effective 12:01 A.M., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), Friday, December 9, 2022, the Virginia Commercial Spot Fishery will close. The fishery will remain closed until April 15, 2023. [ Notice ]
November 21, 2022: Effective 12:01 A.M., Monday, November 28th, 2022, the Virginia commercial cobia fishery will close. [ Notice ]
November 11, 2022: The VMRC main office on 380 Fenwick Rd. is now open to in-person assistance during normal business hours. In addition, VMRC personel are available via phone and email to assist you.
October 26, 2022: Results of the October 25th Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
October 13, 2022: Effective 6:00 P.M., Sunday, October 16, 2022, the 2022/2023 Virginia directed commercial speckled trout fishery will close. Based upon landing reports from Virginia seafood buyers and speckled trout harvesters, it is projected that Virginia will have harvested and landed 100% of the 51,104 pound quota. Therefore, after 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, October 16, 2022, it shall be unlawful for any commercial fisherman registration licensee to take, harvest, land, or possess more than the daily incidental catch limit for the remainder of the fishing year. The daily incidental catch limit shall be 50 pounds of speckled trout per licensee aboard the vessel, not to exceed 100 pounds per vessel. [ Notice ]
October 05, 2022: Due to water damage at the VMRC main office on 380 Fenwick Rd., the office will be closed until further notice to in-person assistance. VMRC personel will be available via phone and email to assist you. [ VMRC News Alert ]
October 03, 2022: From Virginia Department of Health Shellfish Safety: Emergency Closure in the Chesapeake Bay and Eastern Shore that will go into effect Tuesday, October 4, 2022. [ VDH Closure info ]
October 03, 2022: On Friday September 30, 2022, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced the adjustment to the 2022 Winter II commercial scup quota and per-trip Federal landing limit. The Winter II period will run from October 1, 2022 through December 31, 2022. During this period, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess aboard any vessel or to land in Virginia any amount of scup totaling more than 24,000 pounds. [ Notice ]
September 29, 2022: At the September 27, 2022 meeting of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, the Commission voted unanimously to increase the state waters commercial spiny dogfish trip limit from 6,000 pounds to 7,500 pounds. This increase directly mirrors the new trip limit established by National Marine Fisheries Service in April 2022 for federal waters. This change to Chapter 4VAC 20-490-10 will take effect October 1, 2022. [ Notice ]
September 28, 2022: Results of the September 27th Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
September 08, 2022: NOAA Fisheries announced a new scoping period for modifications to the Atlantic Large Whale Take Reduction Plan. The goal is to solicit public comments on ways to reduce the risk of entanglement by 90% in East Coast gillnet and trap/pot fisheries for right, humpback, and finback whales. Scoping begins tomorrow, September 9, and comments are due by October 11, 2022. A webinar is scheduled for September 27 at 4:30pm. For more information and to register for the webinar, please visit https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/event/scoping-meeting-additional-modifications-atlantic-large-whale-take-reduction-plan.
August 30, 2022: The 2022-2023 commercial speckled trout season will open from on September 1, 2022. Chapter 4 VAC 20-280-55 requires any licensed seafood buyer to report daily purchases, from August 1 through November 30, until the commission announces that the directed commercial landings quota has been reached for the current fishing year. Please call the Commission’s Interactive Voice Recording System (800-937-9247, Option 1 then Option 5) and report any purchases of speckled trout, in pounds, on a daily basis. When it is projected that the directed commercial landings quota of 51,104 pounds will be met by a certain date within the above period, the Marine Resources Commission will provide notice and the fishery will move into an incidental catch fishery. Once the directed fishery closure is announced and the fishery moves to incidental catch, it shall be unlawful for any Commercial Fisherman Registration Licensee to take, harvest, land, or possess more than the daily incidental catch limit for the remainder of the fishing year. The daily incidental catch limit shall be 50 pounds of speckled trout per licensee aboard the vessel, not to exceed 100 pounds per vessel. [ Notice ]
August 26, 2022: ASMFC has scheduled hearings to gather public input on the Draft Addendum I to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden, which considers potential changes to current provisions for commercial allocations, the episodic event set aside (EESA) program, and the incidental catch and small-scale fisheries (IC/SSF) provision. Virginia’s public hearing will be on Wednesday, September 21, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. The hearing will take place at VIMS Waterman’s Hall, located at 1375 Greate Road, Gloucester Point, VA 23062. The Draft Addendum and instructions for public comment are available at http://www.asmfc.org/about-us/public-input (scroll down to Atlantic menhaden).
August 24, 2022: Results of the August 23rd Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
August 18, 2022: The Crab Management Advisory Committee (CMAC) will meet on August 30 at 4 PM at the VMRC Main Office, 380 Fenwick Road, Fort Monroe, VA. The committee will discuss potential management measures for the 2023 blue crab season, including agents and transfers. [ Agenda | Livestream ]
August 08, 2022: The Virginia Marine Resources Commission entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Historic Resources to update and clarify our administration of the underwater exploration permit program to enhance the protection of the Commonwealth's submerged historic resources. Updates include an online application and reporting system, modified permit conditions, and other procedural and administrative changes. The new underwater exploration permit program began on August 1, 2022. More information about the changes and access to the new online application system can be found on the agency’s webpage under the Habitat Management section here.
August 04, 2022: A new request for bid to remove abandoned aquaculture enclosures, within the Western Branch, Lynnhaven River, Long Creek and Broad Bay, in the city of Virginia Beach has been posted. [ Notice | Scope of Work ]
July 26, 2022: Results of the July 26th Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
June 29, 2022: Results of the June 28th Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
June 27, 2022: Governor Youngkin has announced the appointment of Jamie L. Green as the new Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission.
June 21, 2022: The Horseshoe Crab Hand-Harvest Category Permit commercial fishery will close beginning at 12 noon, on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. [ Notice ]
June 21, 2022: VMRC is seeking nominations for two seats (Labor and Recreational Fishing Sectors) on its Menhaden Management Advisory Committee (MMAC). A candidate must be a Virginia resident and complete the Advisory Committee Application detailing their fisheries background, experience and ability to serve the Commonwealth as an advisor. More details here; application here. The deadline to apply is July 5, 2022.
June 17, 2022: National Marine Fisheries Service announced a commercial federal waters closure for the Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Northern Zone, to take effect 12:01 am on June 21, 2022. Beginning 12:01 am June 21, 2022, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or land in Virginia any amount of Spanish mackerel in excess of 500 pounds from any vessel in any one day. This provision will be in place until March 1, 2023, when the Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Northern Zone reopens in federal waters. [ VMRC notice | NOAA notice ]
June 10, 2022: Effective 6:00 P.M., Friday, June 17, 2022, the commercial non-purse seine menhaden bait fishery will close. This sector includes cast net, dredge, fyke net, gill net, pound net, haul seine and trawl. Based on landing reports from mandatory harvest reporting, it is projected that Virginia will have caught 100% of the 5,289,548 pounds of the commercial non-purse seine menhaden bait sector quota, by the above date and time.
Beginning at 6:01 P.M., Friday June 17, 2022, any person licensed in the non-purse seine menhaden bait sector may possess and land up to 6,000 pounds of menhaden per calendar day as bycatch. Any two persons licensed in the non-purse seine menhaden bait sector may possess and land up to 12,000 pounds of menhaden bycatch when working together from the same vessel using a stationary multi-species gear (pound nets, anchored/staked gill nets, and fyke nets) per the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission incidental catch provision. [ Notice ]
June 7, 2022: VMRC Accepting Applications for the Eastern Shore Experimental Shrimp Trawl Fishery
The Commission has announced they are accepting applications for the 2022 Eastern Shore Experimental Shrimp Trawl Fishery scheduled to open November 1.
In July 2021, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission approved Chapter 4 VAC 20-1390-10 et seq., “Pertaining to Shrimp” establishing a shrimp trawl fishery with associated license, lottery, gear, season, and area regulations for the Virginia Beach Shrimp Trawl Area after four successful years as an experimental fishery.
Unfortunately, the Eastern Shore area does not have adequate information at this time to transition to a regulated fishery, and will remain experimental in 2022. Eastern Shore permittees will be selected through a lottery from all applicants received by the June 30th deadline. Up to eight (8) permittees will be selected for the Eastern Shore Area. At this time, no additional licenses will be issued for the Virginia Beach Shrimp Trawl Harvest Area in 2022.
Applications and detailed information concerning the Eastern Shore Special Experimental Trawl permits are available at these links: [ ES Shrimp Trawl Permit letter | ES Shrimp Trawl Permit Application ]
Applications must be received by 5pm on June 30th.
For questions: Email fisheries@mrc.virginia.gov, Subject Header "Shrimp"
June 6, 2022: Virginia Marine Resources Commission announces its annual fossil shell material dredging and planting operation for 2022. A unique shell dredge is currently mining fossil shell resources within the James River for placement on public shellfish grounds to allow for recruitment of oyster larvae on the substrate material and grow to market size for future harvest. This operation is unique to Virginia only. [ Press Release Attached ]
May 31, 2022: REMINDER: cobia season opens June 15! The season is June 15-September 15; there is a 1 fish per person, 2 fish per vessel possession limit; and a prohibition on gaffing. The minimum size is 40" total length with one allowed on a vessel >50" total length. To get your permit, please visit: https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/mpermits/. The deadline to report is October 6, 2022.
May 25, 2022: Results of the May 24th Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
May 25, 2022: Fish On! Free Fishing Days Established for Recreational Fishing in Virginia Saltwater areas for June 3-5, 2022. If you've always wanted to try fishing, now is your chance! You may recreationally fish without a license this year, during the first full weekend in June. Take advantage of the free fishing days, June 3, 4, and 5, 2022, and enjoy the great outdoors with your family and friends without having to spend money for a fishing license. [ Press Release ]
May 19, 2022: The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has announced the results from the 2022 Baywide Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey which indicates a continued downturn in juvenile recruitment and a record low year of total blue crab abundance. [ Press Release ]
May 13, 2022: Crab Management Advisory Committee (CMAC) will meet on May 23 at 4 PM at the VMRC Main Office, 380 Fenwick Road, Fort Monroe, VA. Staff will review the results of the 2022 winter dredge survey and discuss possible management measures. [ Agenda ]
April 29, 2022: New recreational fishing measures for summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass were approved at the April 26, 2022 meeting of the VMRC. Effective May 1, 2022, the minimum size limit for summer flounder will be decreasing to 16 inches, the minimum size limit for scup will be increasing to 9 inches, and the minimum size limit for black sea bass will be increasing to 13 inches with a May 15-December 11 season. See our Recreational Fishing webpage for more recreational fishing regulations.
April 12, 2022: Effective 12:01 A.M., Friday, April 15, 2022, the Virginia Commercial Spot Fishery will open. The fishery will remain open until December 8, 2022. [ Notice ]
April 11, 2022: Press Release - The application period is open for the Virginia’s 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program: The open application period for the Virginia 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program begins today, April 11, 2022 and will continue through May 27, 2022. Applications can be submitted online at https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/PandemicResponse2022/. Furthur info.
March 24, 2022: REMINDER - VMRC is seeking nominations for several commercial seats on its Finfish Management Advisory Committee (FMAC). A candidate must be a Virginia resident and complete the Advisory Committee Application detailing their fisheries background, experience and ability to serve the Commonwealth as an advisor. More details here; application here. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2022.
March 23, 2022: Results of the March 22nd Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
March 22, 2022: Application Dates and Meeting Announcement for Virginia’s 2022 Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program: [ Notice ]
March 03, 2022: VMRC will be making staff available in our regional field offices to assist with mandatory commercial harvest online reporting. Staff will be available BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. Click here for information.
March 03, 2022: ASMFC public hearing - The VMRC will host an ASMFC public hearing via webinar for the Recreational Harvest Control Rule on Wednesday, March 16 from 6-8PM. The ASMFC is seeking public comment on a draft Addenda considering changes to the process used by ASMFC and the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council to set recreational management measures (bag, size, and season limits) for summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish. These Addenda will not implement specific management measures, but will define the process for doing so. [ Register for the Webinar | ASMFC Draft Document | Quick Guide to Draft Document ]
March 01, 2022: SAVE the DATE! March 11, 6:30 p.m., Bass Pro Shops Hampton for our annual VGFTP Awards! The public is invited and encouraged to attend the Virginia Gamefish Tagging Program’s annual awards ceremony Friday evening, March 11, 6:30 p.m., at Bass Pro Shops in Hampton. The ceremony will be inside the building near the "fish tank."
February 23, 2022: Results of the February 22nd Commission meeting have been posted. [ Commission Results ]
February 22, 2022: The Agency is pleased to announce new staff additions to the Fisheries Management Division. Brooke Lowman joined VMRC as a Stock Assessment Scientist, transitioning from her initial start at VMRC as a Fisheries Management Scientist. Brooke completed her undergraduate studies at William and Mary and went on to complete her M.S. and Ph.D. at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). Her dissertation focused on analysis of fishery dependent data for fishery management. While working towards her degree at SMAST, she served as Program Manager of the Fisheries Biology and Assessment Lab. Most recently, Brooke worked as a contractor for the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center as a Quantitative Fisheries Ecologist where she focused on modeling aspects of the northern shortfin squid population. A native Virginian, she is glad to return to the Commonwealth after her stint in New England and excited to join the VMRC.
February 18, 2022: ASMFC seeks public comment on Atlantic Striped Bass Amendment 7. The ASMFC is seeking public comment on an amendment to address management triggers, recreational release mortality, stock rebuilding plan, and conservation equivalency. The VMRC will host a public hearing via webinar on Wednesday, March 9 from 6-8PM. [ Register for the Webinar | ASMFC Draft Amendment | Additional information ]
February 15, 2022: Virginia Seeks Nominees for an At-Large Seat on the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. For more details click here.
February 15, 2022: VMRC is seeking nominations for several commercial seats on its Finfish Management Advisory Committee (FMAC). A candidate must be a Virginia resident and complete the Advisory Committee Application detailing their fisheries background, experience and ability to serve the Commonwealth as an advisor. More details here; application here.
January 24, 2022: Per Governor Youngkin, Justin Worrell of our Habitat Management Department has been appointed as our Acting Commissioner until further notice.
January 20, 2022: VMRC main office will close today at 3 PM due to pending inclement weather and remain closed Friday, January 21, 2022. We will open for business Monday, 24th.
January 11, 2022: Effective 12:01 A.M., Saturday, January 15, 2022, the 2022 Virginia commercial croaker fishery will open. The season will remain open until December 31, 2022. [ Notice ]
January 07, 2022: SUMMER FLOUNDER OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT: Effective 12:01 A.M., Saturday February 5, 2022, the 2022 Period One Directed Virginia Offshore Summer Flounder Fishery will open for vessels with a Virginia Summer Flounder Endorsement License. The landing limit for the Offshore (EEZ) Fishery from February 5 through March 5, 2022 is 20,000 pounds. Vessels may land a maximum of 20,000 pounds for the entire period of February 5 through March 5, 2022. [ Notice ]
January 03, 2022: The VMRC main office at 380 Fenwick Road, Ft. Monroe is closing early at 9:30 AM due to inclement weather.
