Public Notice:  Proposed Regulations, February 2014

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the establishment of amendments to regulations, as proposed below.  By February 11, 2014, the proposed draft regulation can be viewed at the Commission offices. 

In accordance with Section 28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed regulation will be held at 12:00 noon, on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia.  Written comments on the proposals should be provided to Robert L. O�Reilly, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, Virginia 23607, by 12:00 p.m., Monday February 24, 2014. 

I.  Chapter 4VAC20-490-10 et seq., �Pertaining to Sharks�
 
The Commission proposes to amend Chapter 4VAC20-490-10 et seq. �Pertaining to Sharks,� to establish the following provisions:

1.  Amend the commercial shark management group definitions to establish a Non-Blacknose Small Coastal Shark Group (Atlantic sharpnose, finetooth, and bonnethead sharks), a Blacknose Shark Group (Blacknose sharks), an Aggregated Large Coastal Shark Group (Silky, Tiger, Blacktip, Spinner, Bull, Lemon, and Nurse sharks), and a Hammerhead Shark Group (Scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead, and smooth hammerhead sharks).

2.  Establish a recreational minimum size limit for scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead, and smooth hammerhead sharks of 78 inches fork length, an increase from the current size limit of 54 inches fork length.

3.  Increase the commercial possession limit for the Aggregated Large Coastal Shark Group to 36 sharks from the current commercial possession limit of 33 sharks.

The purpose of these amendments is to comply with the federal and interstate management plans for these species and to promote efficient utilization of shark fishery resources. 


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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.



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