Public Notice:  Proposed Regulations, October 2011

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the proposed amendments to regulations listed below. 

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, October 25, 2011, at the Virginia 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, 3rd Floor, Newport News, Virginia 23607, by 5:00 p.m., Monday, October 24, 2011.  Copies of the proposed regulations 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.

I.  Chapter 4VAC20-620-10 et seq. "Pertaining to Summer Flounder".

The Commission will consider proposals by industry to modify the opening date, landing time period, and landing limits for the summer flounder fall directed offshore flounder fishery.  The industry proposal recommends opening the fall directed fishery the second Monday in November (November 14, 2011) and allowing vessels to land up to 10,000 pounds of summer flounder, for commercial purposes every 15 days.  Currently, the fall directed offshore commercial fishery, for summer flounder, allows any vessel with a summer flounder endorsement license to land up to 7,500 pounds of summer flounder for commercial purposes, no more than twice within each 12-day period, beginning the last Monday in November (November 28, 2011). 

II. Chapter 4 VAC20-910-10 et seq. "Pertaining to Scup (Porgy)".

The Commission proposes to increase the November 1 through December 31, 2011 (Winter II period) commercial scup landing limit from 2,000 pounds to 8,000 pounds per trip, due to rollover from the Winter I period (January through April) quota.  The Commission also proposes to adjust the Winter I landing period from 14 days to 7 days and to increase the Virginia Summer period commercial scup quota from 6,861 pounds to 13,085 pounds.  These amendments are necessary to comply with the requirements of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. 

III. Chapter 4VAC20-720-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest".

On September 27, 2011, the Commission approved emergency amendments to Chapter 4VAC 20-720-10, et seq., "Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest", that established an oyster seed harvest quota of 120,000 bushels in the James River Seed Area, including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area for the 2011/2012 public harvest season.  Of this 120,000 bushel quota, no more than 40,000 bushels of this quota may be harvested from October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011.  Prior to any person harvesting or landing oyster seed from the James River Seed Area, including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area, that person must obtain a permit from the Conservation and Replenishment Department.  All harvesters shall report daily seed harvest to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission Interactive Voice Response System, within 24 hour of harvest or landing.  Any harvester is also required to provide a monthly harvest report of daily harvest records to the Commission on forms provided by the Commission.

The Commission will consider making these amendments permanent parts of the Regulation at the October meeting.

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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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