COMMISSION ACTIONS March 28, 2017

** APPROVAL OF AGENDA. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED [audio]

1. MINUTES of previous meeting. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AS WRITTEN [audio]

2. PERMITS (Projects over $500,000.00 with no objections and with staff recommendation for approval). NONE [audio]

3. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. NONE [audio]

4. CLOSED MEETING FOR CONSULTATION WITH, OR BRIEFING BY, COUNSEL. NONE [audio]

5. MICHAEL MYERS, #17-0097 Requests authorization to install a 14.5 foot by 34.5-foot open-sided boathouse and a 10-foot by 20-foot open-sided gazebo roof on a statutorily exempt private pier along the James River at 18015 Morgarts Beach Road in Isle of Wight County. The project is protested by an adjacent property owner. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED AS PROPOSED [audio]

6. BROADWATER SEAFOOD, Oyster Planting Ground Application #2016-065 Requests authorization to lease approximately ten (10) acres in Nassawadox Creek in the Occohannock Neck area of Northampton County. The project is protested by nearby property owners. This application was received in the Newport News office on the same day as the James application, #16-066. UNANIMOUSLY DENIED [audio]

7. THOMAS JAMES, Oyster Planting Ground Application #2016-066 Requests authorization to lease approximately 11.50 acres in Nassawadox Creek in the Occohannock Neck area of Northampton County. The project is protested by nearby property owners. This application was received in the Newport News office on the same day as the Broadwater Seafood application, #2016-065. UNANIMOUSLY DENIED [audio]

8. THOMAS JAMES, Oyster Planting Ground Application #2016-056 Requests authorization to lease approximately 30 acres in Nassawadox Creek in the Chesawadox area of Northampton County. The project is protested by nearby property owners. UNANIMOUSLY DENIED [audio]

9. THOMAS JAMES, Oyster Planting Ground Application #2016-058 Requests authorization to lease approximately 12 acres in Nassawadox Creek near Long Point in Northampton County. The project is protested by nearby property owners. UNANIMOUSLY DENIED FOLLOWING THE APPLICANT'S STATEMENT THAT THE MODIFIED AREA RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY STAFF WAS WORTH PURSUING. [audio]

10. PUBLIC COMMENTS No decision needed. [audio]

11. OFFENDERS: THE COMMISSION HEARD 8 CASES OF OFFENDERS WITH NATURAL RESOURCE VIOLATIONS. [audio]

12. PUBLIC HEARING Make amendments to Chapter 4 VAC 20-252-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass," Chapter 4 VAC 20-510-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Amberjack and Cobia," and Chapter 4 VAC 20-1120-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Tilefish and Groupers, to simplify permitting requirements for select recreational fisheries. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO ACCEPT CHANGES TO THE PERMITTING AND MANDATORY RECREATIONAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SPRING TROPHY STRIPED BASS FISHERY, CHARTER STRIPED BASS FISHERY, TILEFISH-GROUPER FISHERY, AND COBIA FISHERY. THESE CHANGES INCLUDE SIMPLIFYING THE PERMITTING SYSTEM AND REDUCING REDUNDANT REPORTING. [audio]

13. PUBLIC HEARING Make amendments to Chapter 4 VAC 20-950-10 et seq."Pertaining to Black Sea Bass," to establish the commercial back sea bass fishery quota for 2017. THE COMMISSION VOTED TO ADVERTISE FOR A MAY PUBLIC HEARING TO ESTABLISH THE 2017 VIRGINIA COMMERCIAL BLACK SEA BASS QUOTA. [audio]

14. PUBLIC HEARING Make amendments to Chapter 4 VAC 20-510-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Amberjack and Cobia," to establish management measures for the 2017 recreational cobia fishery. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADOPT THE FOLLOWING CONSERVATION MEASURES FOR THE COBIA STOCK AND ITS RECREATIONAL FISHERY FOR 2017: 1) A 40-INCH TOTAL LENGTH MINIMUM SIZE; 2) A ONE FISH-PER-PERSON POSSESSION LIMIT; 3) A DAILY VESSEL LIMIT OF THREE FISH WHEN THREE OR MORE ANGLERS ARE ON BOARD THE VESSEL, ONLY ONE OF WHICH MAY BE GREATER THAN 50 INCHES TOTAL LENGTH; AND 4) A SEASON START DATE OF JUNE 1ST AND A SEASON CLOSURE OF SEPTEMBER 15. THE GAFFING PROHIBITION REMAINS IN EFFECT. [audio]

15. REQUEST FOR PUBLIC HEARING Amendments to Chapter 4 VAC 20-450-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Taking of Bluefish", to establish the 2017 Virginia commercial bluefish quota. THE COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO ADVERTISE FOR AN APRIL PUBLIC HEARING TO ESTABLISH THE 2017 COMMERCIAL BLUEFISH QUOTA. [audio]