Publice Notice

TO: SUMMER FLOUNDER INDUSTRY

FROM: VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION

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

Effective 12:01 A.M. Sunday, April 1, 2007, the Second Quarter of the Virginia Offshore Summer Flounder Fishery will open with a possession limit of 5,000 pounds. When it is projected and announced that 85% of the Second 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 2,138,818 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 2006 Quota 2,138,818
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
____________
Total Offshore 1,813,818


The Second Quarter quota is therefore 116,084 pounds of Summer Flounder. The possession limit for the Second Quarter is 5,000 pounds; except that when it is projected and announced that 85% of the Second Quarter quota (98,671 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 Operation Station 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.