Public Notice:  Proposed Regulation, November/December 2013

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the establishment of the regulations, as proposed below. 

In accordance with Section 28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held at 12:00 noon, on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia.  Written comments on the proposals should be provided to Robert L. O'Reilly, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, Virginia 23607, by 12:00 p.m., Monday December 9, 2013. 

I.  Chapter 4VAC20-500-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Catching of Eels"

The Commission proposes to amend Chapter 4VAC20-500-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Catching of Eels," to establish the following provisions:

  1. Establish a commercial eel harvest season closure for all gears, except pots and traps, from September 1 through December 31;
  2. Lower the current recreational possession limit of 50 eels per day to 25 eels per day, except the charter and head boat possession limit shall remain as 50 eels per day; and,
  3. Establish a 9-inch minimum possession size limit for any recreational or commercial harvest. The current minimum possession size limit is 6 inches.

The purpose of these amendments is to comply with the interstate fishery management plan for this species. 

II.  Chapter 4VAC20-490-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Sharks"

The Commission proposes to amend Chapter 4VAC20-490-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Sharks," to establish the following provisions:

  1. Establish a maximum of a 12% fin-to-carcass weight ratio for smooth dogfish; and,
  2. Amend the time period commercial fisherman may completely process smooth dogfish at sea, prior to landing, from the current time period of March 1 through June 30 to the proposed time period of January 1 through December 31.

The purpose of these amendments is to comply with the interstate fishery management plan for this species.

III.  Chapter 4VAC20-252-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass"

The Commission proposes to amend Chapter 4VAC20-252-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass," to establish the following provisions:

  1. Establish the 2014 Virginia recreational and commercial striped bass quotas as 1,402,325 pounds, for each fishery; and,
  2. Establish a 12-pound minimum weight, for the coastal striped bass area fishery, to allocate striped bass tags in all cases where harvesters report an average striped bass weight lower than 12 pounds.

The purpose of these amendments is to manage an individual stock of fish as a unit stock and to promote conservation.

IV.  Chapter 4VAC20-900-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Horseshoe Crabs"

The Commission proposes to amend Chapter 4VAC20-900-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Horseshoe Crabs," to establish the following provisions:

  1. Establish the 2014 Virginia horseshoe crab quota as no greater than 172,828 horseshoe crabs;
  2. Establish a quota category-specific licensing system;
  3. Establish quota category-specific daily vessel trip limits;
  4. Establish a dredge gear prohibition in Virginia Blue Crab Sanctuary Area 2 which is the historical (1942) Sanctuary;
  5. Provide for hand harvesters to register one helper; and,
  6. Define possession limits by time-of-day, beginning at 12:00 P.M. of the current day and ending at 11:59 A.M. of the following day.

The purpose of these amendments is to minimize regulatory burden and assign fair and equitable fishing privileges.

 

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VMRC DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES; THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO A DISABILITY, PLEASE ADVISE BETTY WARREN (757-247-2248) NO LATER THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING DATE AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.





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