December 22, 2023: For the months of January through April 2024, Virginia will open its Directed Offshore Summer Flounder Fishery for 4 periods. Please see attached notice for details. [ Notice ]
December 20, 2023: Effective 12:01 A.M., Monday, January 1, 2024, the Virginia commercial croaker fishery will close. Therefore, after 12:01 A.M., Monday, January 1, 2024, it shall be unlawful for any commercial fisherman registration licensee to harvest or land croaker until the season opens on January 15, 2024. [ Notice ]
December 8, 2023: Horseshoe Crab Trawl Category Permit commercial fishery will close beginning at 12 noon, on Friday, December 8th, 2023. [ Notice ]
December 6, 2023: Results of the December VMRC meeting can be found under [ Final Minutes ]
December 6, 2023: Effective 12:01 A.M., Friday, December 8, 2023, the 2023 Virginia commercial spot fishery will close. Therefore, 12:01 A.M., Friday, December 8, 2023, it shall be unlawful for any commercial fisherman registration licensee to harvest or land spot for the remainder of 2023. The commercial spot fishery will remain closed until April 15, 2024. [ Notice ]
November 13, 2023: The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) has scheduled Virginia’s striped bass public hearing regarding Addendum 2 of Amendment 7 for December 7th, 2023 starting at 6 pm, this meeting is scheduled for 2 hours. The meeting will take place in person at VMRC’s main office in the Commission Room and is open to the public. ASMFC will be giving a presentation discussing the recreational Bay and Ocean striped bass options along with potential reductions to the commercial quotas. Below you will find ASMFC's news release for all of the public hearings and an overview of what will be discussed and how to submit public comments if you cannot attend the meeting in person. [ News Release ]
November 06, 2023: The combined November/December Commission Meeting will be held on December 5th, 2023
November 03, 2023: Attention black sea bass anglers – VMRC wants your opinion on opening a recreational black sea bass season in February 2024. This specially-permitted season has been opened several times in the last few years with the trade-off of an in-season closure later in the year. Click the link below by November 10 to answer a one-question survey about your interest in the February season. [ Survey ]
October 25, 2023: Results of the October VMRC meeting can be found under [ Minutes ]
October 10, 2023: ATTENTION CRAB POT FISHERMEN: Bushel limits and season dates were amended for Fall 2023 at the September 26, 2023 Commission meeting. The high bushel limits are in effect through October 31, 2023 and the low bushel limits will be in effect from November 1 through December 16, 2023 (Chapter 4 VAC 20-270-10 et seq.). [ Notice ]
October 10, 2023: Effective 6:00 P.M., Friday, October 13, 2023, the 2023/2024 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 Friday, October 13, 2023, 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 (Chapter 4VAC 20-280-10 et seq.). [ Notice ]
September 29, 2023: The main office of VMRC at 380 Fenwick Road, will be closed today, Friday the 29th. We will resume normal office hours on Monday the 2nd.
September 26, 2023: Results of the September VMRC meeting can be found under [ Minutes ]
September 22, 2023: The main office of VMRC at 380 Fenwick Road, will be closed today due to oncoming storm. We will resume normal office hours on Monday the 25th.
September 12, 2023: On Thursday September 7, 2023, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced the adjustment to the 2023 Winter II commercial scup quota and per-trip Federal landing limit. The Winter II period will run from October 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. 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 13,500 pounds. [ Notice ]
August 31, 2023: NOAA Fisheries is closing the commercial blueline tilefish fishery through the end of the fishing year, December 31, 2023. Effective at 0001 hour on September 5, 2023 no vessel may retain or land blueline tilefish in or from the Tilefish Management Unit through December 31, 2023. [ Notice ]
August 23, 2023: Results of the August VMRC meeting can be found under [ Minutes ]
August 18, 2023: ATTENTION ALL COMMERCIAL SPECKLED TROUT BUYERS: This is a reminder that Chapter 4 VAC 20-280-55 requires any licensed seafood buyer to report daily purchases of speckled trout, 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, beginning September 1, 2023. [ Notice ]
July 28, 2023: Virginia Marine Resources Commission is requesting applicants to participate in the Crab Management Advisory Committee (CMAC). To apply please fill out this form. The Crab Management Advisory Committee will be meeting August 3, 2023 at 4:00 PM in the VMRC Commission Room at our Main Office.
July 26, 2023: Results of the July VMRC meeting can be found under [ Minutes ]
July 13, 2023: With the passage of SB 1074 and HB 2181 by the 2023 General Assembly (Va. Acts Chs. 258 and 259, to be codified at § 28.2-1203 A.9 of the Code of Virginia) effective July 1, 2023, VMRC’s residual jurisdiction over non-tidal waters for encroachments over or under State-owned subaqueous lands may be reviewed in a new VMRC/DEQ Memorandum Of Agreement (MOA) Regarding Permitting in Non-tidal Waters.
July 06, 2023: Virginia Marine Resources Commission is requesting applicants to participate in the Commercial Fishing Advisory Board (CFAB). To apply please fill out this form. [ Application form ]
July 06, 2023: The Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Safety announced July 5th that a portion of Rosier Creek, found in King George and Westmoreland Counties, is closed to shellfish harvesting due to a sewage bypass impacting water quality in nearby shellfish harvesting waters. It is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
June 27, 2023: Results of the June VMRC meeting can be found under [ Minutes ]
June 14, 2023: The Horseshoe Crab Hand Harvest Category Permit commercial fishery will close beginning at 12 noon, on Saturday, June 17th, 2023. [ Notice ]
June 06, 2023: NOAA is promoting National Fishing and Boating Week. Learn how your data makes a difference! We are proud to play a key role in NOAA Fisheries’ Marine Recreational Information Program, the state-regional-federal partnership that develops, implements, and continually improves a national network of recreational fishing surveys to provide estimates of recreational catch and effort. Sustainable fishing is a shared responsibility, and it starts with information from you. In this short YouTube video, learn how your fishing counts!.
June 06, 2023: VMRC Commission Accepting Applications for the Eastern Shore Experimental Shrimp Trawl Fishery [ Notice ]
June 02, 2023: VMRC Announces Voluntary Recreational Cobia Initiative for 2023 Season. [ Notice ]
June 02, 2023: Effective 12:00 A.M., Wednesday, June 7, 2023, the 2023 Scup Summer Period, May 1 through September 30, 2023, will close. Therefore, after 12:00 A.M. on June 7, 2023, the possession or landing of scup (porgy) in Virginia by any commercial gear shall be prohibited. In addition, it shall be unlawful for any buyer of seafood to receive scup until the Winter II season opens on October 1, 2023. (Chapter 4 VAC 20-910-10 et seq.). [ Notice ]
June 02, 2023: Fish On! Free Fishing Days Established for June 2-4. [ Press release | Commissioner's notice ]
May 23, 2023: Results of the May VMRC meeting can be found under [ Minutes ]
May 19, 2023: The Horseshoe Crab Dredge Category Permit commercial fishery will close beginning at 12 noon, on Wednesday, May 24th, 2023. [ Notice ]
May 18, 2023: The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has announced the results from the 2023 Bay-wide Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey. Please see the attached press release for more information about the results as well as where to hear presentations of these results. [ Notice ]
May 10, 2023: Effective 2PM, Friday, May 12, 2023, the Virginia James River Seed Area, including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area will close to the harvest of Seed Oysters. [ Notice ]
May 10, 2023: The Crab Management Advisory Committee (CMAC) will meet on May 24 at 4 PM at the VMRC Main Office, 380 Fenwick Road, Fort Monroe, VA. The committee will discuss results of the 2023 Bay-wide Blue Crab Winter Dredge Survey. The meeting will also be livestreamed. [ Agenda ]
May 10, 2023: Virtual Public Hearings Scheduled on 2023 Atlantic Striped Bass Emergency Action [ Notice ]
May 08, 2023: NOTICE – Due to Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) printing delays with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), VMRC will accept charter applications missing MMCs with the following additional proof. If getting an Original or Raise of Grade, please submit one of the following: 1) MMC Application Status with an Approved to Print, Printed, or Issued status. 2) MMC Credential Verification displaying MMC Issued and Expiration dates (if applicable) OR email verification from NMC. 3) MMC Credential Verification displaying Credential Details with appropriate endorsements OR email verification from NMC. 4) Previous MMC (if not original issuance). If you applied for a Renewal MMC though the USCG, please submit the expired MMC with one of the following: 1) MMC Application Status with an Approved to Print, Printed, or Issued status. 2) Previous MMC (if not original issuance). Please contact Somers 757-247-2004 if you have any questions when applying for charter licenses. For more information, please read the USCG announcement here: https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/announcements/2023/MSIB_06_23_Merchant_Mariner_Credentialing_Delays.pdf.
May 01, 2023: The Horseshoe Crab General Category Permit (Gill Nets) commercial fishery will close beginning at 12 Midnight, on Tuesday, May 2nd, 2023. [ Notice ]
May 01, 2023: Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) Survey and UXO Identification Work. The UXO Survey activities are expected to finish in early-May 2023 with the vessels operating on a 24/7 basis to complete the remaining work in the area linked below. Mariners transiting or fishing in the survey area are requested to give a wide berth to survey vessels which may be limited in their ability to maneuver. Click here for more information.
April 27, 2023: Funding Opportunity: The VMRC has created our new Abandoned or Derelict Vessel Grant Program and is requesting proposals from local governments and other political subdivisions of the Commonwealth to receive funding or to reimburse for the removal of abandoned or derelict vessels from the public tidal waters of Virginia. For more information, visit the ADV website at: https://mrc.virginia.gov/advgrant.shtm
April 25, 2023: Results of the April VMRC meeting can be found under Minutes.
April 12, 2023: Effective 12:01 A.M., Saturday, April 15, 2023, the 2023 Virginia Commercial Spot Fishery will open. The fishery will remain open until December 8, 2023 [ Notice ].
April 07, 2023: Per the Commissioner, the main office at 380 Fenwick Rd, Ft. Monroe will close at noon on Friday April 7th. It will reopen Monday the 10th for regular business hours.
March 22, 2023: VMRC would like to congratulate George Trice IV and Chris Ludford for being chosen as the two new commercial members to the Finfish Management Advisory Committee (FMAC), for more information about the members on this committee please visit https://mrc.virginia.gov/fmac/fmac.shtm.
March 03, 2023: The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is developing Amendment 1 to the NC Spotted Seatrout Fishery Management Plan in response to the 2022 stock assessment done by Virginia and North Carolina that shows this shared stock is experiencing overfishing but not overfished. The Division will solicit input on potential management strategies for the upcoming amendment and discuss stakeholder priorities. The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries will be holding an in-person meeting in Barco, NC just south of the Virginia state line and has invited interested Virginia spotted seatrout anglers to attend this public meeting. VMRC will also be holding public meetings (dates to be determined) to discuss and collect public input on potential management changes to the Virginia spotted seatrout fishery in response to the stock assessment results. The March 16th Barco meeting will run from 6 to 8 PM at the NC Cooperative Extension, Currituck County Center, 120 Community Way #120, Barco, NC 27917
February 28, 2023: The Commission voted to extend a number of harvest areas today by 10 calendar days (2 weeks). Changes to the harvest season are now reflected in the updated Chesapeake Bay Map https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/maps/chesapeakebay_map.php. Two weeks of harvest were added to the following areas; Tangier Sound, Black Berry Hangs, Great Wicomico, Rappahannock River Area 1, Deep Rock, York River, and All Hand Tong Areas set to close March 31. Please consult VMRC regulation https://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/FR720.shtm for additional information.
February 28, 2023: The Commission voted to terminate Recreational Cobia Mandatory Reporting Program (RCMRP) at the Tuesday, February 28th Commission meeting. Anglers no longer need a recreational permit to target cobia in Virginia waters. We encourage voluntary cobia reporting (especially release data) using the Virginia Saltwater Journal (www.vasaltwaterjournal.com) to help assist with stock assessment data. Otherwise, the 2023 recreational regulations remain the same: season open June 15-September 15; 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. [ Commission Results ]
February 24, 2023: VMRC is seeking nominations for two 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 Tuesday February 28th at 11:59PM.
February 22, 2023: VMRC is proposing to terminate the Recreational Cobia Mandatory Reporting Program (RCMRP) at the Tuesday, February 28th Commission meeting. If the amendments are accepted, anglers would no longer need a Recreational Cobia Permit to target cobia in Virginia. Please check back next week to see if this change is finalized. To listen to the meeting on YouTube, visit our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/vamarineresources on the day of the meeting.
February 06, 2023: Oyster Replenishment Department announces Rappahannock River rotation area 4 closure [ Notice ]
February 02, 2023: VMRC Announces Extension and Adjustment of Oyster Harvest Areas [ Notice ]
February 01, 2023: The VMRC Commission approved at their January meeting an industry request to extend the public oyster harvest season in areas located in both the James and Rappahannock Rivers that have shown an abundant stock. The extension was approved through February 24, 2023 for the following areas and gears:
• James River Areas 1, 2, and 3 (hand scrape gear)
• Rappahannock Rotation Area 2 (hand scrape gear)
An updated map of open harvest areas can be found at https://webapps.mrc.virginia.gov/public/maps/chesapeakebay_map.php
Please consult VMRC regulation https://mrc.virginia.gov/regulations/MRC_Scanned_Regs/Oyster/ER720_01-31-23.pdf for more details.
January 30, 2023: VMRC is seeking nominations for two 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 February 24, 2023.
January 24, 2023: The Commission has voted to open a special recreational black sea bass season from February 1-28, 2023. Interested in participating? You can read more about permitting and reporting requirements here and you can acquire your free permit here. [ Commission Results ]
January 11, 2023: Effective 12:01 A.M., Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), Sunday, January 15, 2023, the Virginia Commercial Atlantic Croaker Fishery will open. The fishery will remain open until December 31, 2023. [ Notice ]
