Publice Notice

TO: SUMMER FLOUNDER INDUSTRY

FROM: VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION

RE: REVISED 2007 FINAL SPECIFICATIONS FOR SUMMER FLOUNDER

NOAA Fisheries Service has increased the commercial quota and recreational harvest limits, for summer flounder, effective January 19, 2007. This increase has been implemented using authority granted by the Maguson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006. The summer flounder total allowable landing (TAL) is increased by this action from 12.98 million pounds, published in the Federal Register on December 14, 2006, to 17.112 million pounds. With this increase, the revised commercial summer flounder quota is 10,267,098 pounds. Virginia's commercial share (21.317 %) will increase by 528,101 pounds for a total of 2,138,818 pounds. Virginia's revised commercial summer flounder quota will be distributed, as described in Regulation 4 VAC 20 620 10 ET. SEQ. "Pertaining to Summer Flounder," as follows: 

REVISED 2007 COMMERCIAL SUMMER FLOUNDER QUOTAS (in pounds)

Virginia 2007 Quota 2,138,818
Overage from 2006 - ?????
Inshore allocation 300,000 
__________ 
Offshore Quota 1,813,818

First Quarter (64.3%) 1,166,285
Second Quarter (6.4%) 116,084 
Third Quarter no directed fishery
Fourth Quarter (29.3%) 531,449

The First Quarter quota is therefore 1,166,285 pounds of Summer Flounder. 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. 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 (991,342 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.