The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the proposed amendments to regulations listed 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, April 24, 2012 at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia.
Written comments on the proposals should be mailed to Robert L. O'Reilly, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, Virginia 23607, by 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 23, 2012.
Copies of the proposed regulations may be reviewed at the Commission Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and may be obtained by calling the Commission at (757) 247-2248.
I. Chapter 4 VAC20-900-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Horseshoe Crabs".
On March 27, 2012 the Marine Resources Commission adopted, under its emergency regulatory authority (Section 28.2-210 of The Code of Virginia), amendments to this chapter that become effective March 29, 2012 and establish:
1) it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest or land any amount of horseshoe crabs from waters east of the COLREGS line, by non-trawl gears, that exceeds 27.512% of the commercial horseshoe crab quota; and, 2) it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest or land any amount of horseshoe crabs from waters east of the COLREGS line, by trawl gears, that exceeds 12.488% of the commercial horseshoe crab quota.
The Commission proposes to make these emergency amendments part of final Chapter 4VAC20-900-10 et seq. at its April 24, 2012 meeting.
The purpose of this amendment is to prevent the inequitable harvest of horseshoe crabs east of the COLREGS line.
II.
Chapter 4 VAC20-950-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Black Sea Bass".
On March 27, 2012, the Marine Resources Commission adopted, under its emergency regulatory authority (Section 28.2-210 of The Code of Virginia), an amendment to this chapter that becomes effective March 29, 2012 and establishes it shall be unlawful to possess aboard any vessel, in Virginia waters, any amount of black sea bass in excess of the combined total of any portion of the Virginia permitted landing limit and the North Carolina legal landing limit or trip limit.
The purpose of this amendment is to promote efficiency in the utilization of fisheries resources.
The Commission proposes to make these emergency amendments part of final Chapter 4VAC20-950-10 at the April 24, 2012 Commission Meeting.
III. Chapter 4VAC20-1120-10 et seq. "Pertaining to Tilefish and Grouper".
The Commission will consider amendments to modify the commercial possession limit for tilefish (golden, blueline, and sand tilefish species), in response to industry requests.
Modifications may include increasing the possession limit for blueline tilefish and sand tilefish to 300 pounds.
Currently, the possession limit, for all 3 species, is 500 pounds, and that limit includes a maximum of 200 pounds of blueline tilefish.
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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.
