The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the establishment of the
regulations, as proposed below.
By April 8, 2013 the proposed draft regulation can be viewed at the Commission offices or on the Commission website at the following address:
http://www.mrc.virginia.gov/calendar.shtm
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 23, 2013, 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 22, 2013.
Chapter 4VAC20-490-10 et seq., �Pertaining to Sharks�.
The purposes of the proposed amendments are to reduce overcapacity of licenses in the fishery and to increase efficiency of utilization of the spiny dogfish quota. The proposed amendments would reduce the number of limited entry permits in the commercial spiny dogfish fishery from 107 to 74 and increase daily landing limits from 3,000 to 3,300 pounds.
Chapter 4VAC20-900-10 et seq., �Pertaining to Horseshoe Crab�.
The purpose of the amendments is to better protect marine mammals and sea turtles from incidental takes in the horseshoe crab gill net fishery. The proposed amendments which were adopted under emergency authority of the Commission on March 26, 2013 would prohibit use of gill nets with stretch mesh equal to or greater than 6 inches and use of any twine size less than 0.81 mm, unless that person possesses a valid Coastal Area Striped Bass Permit or a Black Drum Harvesting and Selling Permit.
Chapter 4VAC20-950-10 et seq., �Pertaining to Black Sea Bass�.
To comply with interstate fishery management plan requirements, the Commission proposes amendments to this Chapter to lower the recreational black sea bass fishery possession limit of 25 fish to 20 fish, for the May 19 through October 14 and November 1 through December 31 season, and to increase the 2013 commercial directed fishery quota of 316,000 pounds to 394,000 pounds.
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.
