Publice Notice

TO: SUMMER FLOUNDER INDUSTRY

FROM: VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION

RE: OPENING OF VIRGINIA'S FIRST QUARTER DIRECTED OFFSHORE
SUMMER FLOUNDER FISHERY

Effective 12:01 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, Monday, January 22, 2007, the First Quarter of the Directed Virginia Offshore Summer Flounder fishery will open. Vessels are limited to a ten-day cumulative possession limit of 12,500 pounds of Summer Flounder during each consecutive 10-day landing period and shall only land Summer Flounder a maximum of twice within any 10-day landing period. When it is projected and announced that 85% of the First Quarter quota has been taken, it shall be unlawful for any person harvesting Summer Flounder outside of Virginia's waters to possess aboard any vessel in Virginia any amount of Summer Flounder in excess of 10% by weight of all other landed species on board the vessel. 

Virginia's overall quota for the 2007 season is 1,610,717 pounds (21.32% of the coastwide commercial allocation), unless otherwise modified by the National Marine Fisheries Service. As described in Regulation 4 VAC 20 620 10 ET. SEQ. "Pertaining to Summer Flounder," the Virginia quota will be distributed as follows: 

2007 COMMERCIAL SUMMER FLOUNDER QUOTAS (in pounds)

Virginia 2007 Quota 1,610,717
Overage from 2006 - ?????
Inshore allocation 300,000 
__________ 
Offshore Quota 1,310,717

First Quarter (64.3%) 842,791
Second Quarter (6.4%) 83,886
Third Quarter no directed fishery
Fourth Quarter (29.3%) 384,040

The First Quarter quota is therefore 842,791 pounds of Summer Flounder. The cumulative possession limit for the First Quarter Directed Fishery is 12,500 pounds in each ten-day landing period, beginning January 22 through January 31. When it is projected and announced that 85% of the First Quarter quota (716,372 pounds) has been taken, it shall be unlawful for any person harvesting Summer Flounder outside of Virginia's waters to possess aboard any vessel in Virginia any amount of Summer Flounder in excess of 10% by weight of all other landed species on board the vessel. Only vessels holding a valid Virginia Summer Flounder Endorsement License may possess Summer Flounder. 

It shall be unlawful for a licensed seafood buyer or federally permitted seafood buyer to fail to contact the Marine Resources Commission Operation Station (757-247-2265 or 1-800-541-4646), prior to a vessel offloading Summer Flounder harvested outside of Virginia. The buyer shall provide to the Commission the name of the vessel and its captain and the anticipated or approximate offloading time. Once offloading of any vessel is complete and the total weight of the landed Summer Flounder has been determined, the buyer shall contact the Marine Resources Commission Operations Station and report the vessel name and corresponding total weight of Summer Flounder landed. It shall be unlawful for any person to offload from a boat or vessel for commercial purposes any Summer Flounder during the period of 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.

If you have questions or comments contact Lewis Gillingham at (757) 247 2243.


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