Publice Notice: Pertaining to Summer Flounder and Various Regs 2004
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on
proposed amendments to the regulations listed below.
In accordance with § 28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public
hearing on the proposed amendments will be held at 12:00 Noon on
Tuesday, March 23, 2004, at the Marine Resources Commission, 2600
Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia. Written comments on
the proposals should be mailed to Jack Travelstead, VMRC Fisheries
Management Division, 2600 Washington Avenue, Third Floor, Newport News,
Virginia
23607. Copies of the proposed amendments 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.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS:
I. Regulation 4 VAC
20-620-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Summer Flounder."
The Commission proposes to establish management measures (minimum size
limit, possession limit, closed seasons) for the 2004 recreational
summer flounder fishery, according to the ASMFC-approved options,
listed below. Each option includes a closed season from January 1
through March 28, 2004. The 2003 fishery was managed by a 17
1/2", 8-fish possession limit, with no closed summer season.
Option |
Minimum Size
Limit
(inches)
|
Possession
Limit
(number of fish)
|
Closed
Summer Season |
Landings
Data Used |
1)
|
17 1/2 |
8 |
None
|
2003 |
2)
|
17 1/2
|
8 |
None |
2002-2003
|
3)
|
17
|
8
|
None
|
2003
|
4) |
17
|
8
|
None |
2002-2003 |
5)
|
16 1/2 |
8
|
Any 4 days,
July 19-25 |
2003 |
6)
|
16 1/2 |
8
|
July 24
-August 15 |
2002-2003 |
Note: Lowering the possession limit, for options based on a 16
1/2" minimum size limit, lowers the extent of the closed season.
Using 2003 landings data, a 16 1/2" and 4 fish limit requires no closed
summer fishing days. Using average (2002-2003) landings data, a
16 1/2" and 3-fish limit requires an 8-day summer closed period.
II. Regulation 4 VAC
20-950-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Black Sea Bass."
The Commission proposes to modify the closed season for the
recreational black sea bass fishery, from September 2 through September
15 and December 1 through December 31 to September 8 through September
21 and December 1 through December 31.
III. Regulation 4
VAC 20-910-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Scup."
The Commission proposes to modify the commercial harvest and landing
limit of scup for the May 1 through October 31 period, in accordance
with the coast-wide quota determined for this period by the Atlantic
States Marine Fisheries Commission. The current harvest and landing
limit for this period is 7,721 pounds of scup.
********
VMRC DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES;
THEREFORE, IF YOU ARE IN NEED OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS DUE TO A
DISABILITY,
PLEASE ADVISE DEBORAH CAWTHON (757) 247-2248 NO LESS THAN FIVE WORK
DAYS PRIOR
TO THE MEETING TIME AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.