COMMISSION ACTIONS July 28, 2026

** APPROVAL OF AGENDA. COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE AGENDA AS SUBMITTED.

1. MINUTES of previous meeting. COMMISSION APPROVED THE JUNE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED BY A VOTE OF 6 TO 0 WITH ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER KELLUM ABSTAINING.

2. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS. NONE.

3. CLOSED MEETING FOR CONSULTATION WITH, OR BRIEFING BY, COUNSEL. NONE.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS MR. ROGER ANDERSON AND MR. JIM DEAVER, RECREATIONAL ANGLERS, EXPRESSED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT DECLINE OF FISH POPULATIONS AROUND THE MIDDLE PENINSULA AND NORTHERN NECK, RESPECTIVELY. BOTH HAD CONCERNS ABOUT COMMERCIAL GILLNETTING FOR STRIPED BASS. FURTHER, BOTH COMMENTED ON PERCEIVED INEQUALITY BETWEEN RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL HARVEST LIMITS. COMMISSIONER GRIST ASKED THEM TO SUBMIT THEIR WRITTEN COMMENTS TO CHIEF OF FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ETHAN SIMPSON TO BE PROVIDED TO THE FINFISH MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE. MR. MICHAEL SHACKELFORD, COMMERCIAL WATERMAN, ASKED FOR CORRINE GENTILE'S (HIS MOTHER) OYSTER GROUND LEASE TO BE RETURNED TO THEIR FAMILY. MR. SHACKELFORD MISSED APPLYING AND PAYING FOR THE 10-YEAR RENEWAL OF THE LEASE AND, BY THE CODE OF VIRGINIA, THAT LEASE WAS TERMINATED. ANOTHER PARTY HAS APPLIED FOR THIS LEASE GROUND AND, BY CODE, LEASE APPLICATIONS MUST BE CONSIDERED IN THE ORDER THEY'RE RECEIVED. COMMISSIONER GRIST ADVISED MR. SHACKELFORD THAT THE OTHER LEASE APPLICATION MUST BE CONSIDERED FIRST BUT IF MR. SHACKELFORD PROTESTS THAT APPLICATION, THE MATTER WOULD COME BEFORE THE COMMISSION.

5. PERMITS (Projects over $1,000,000 with no objections and with staff recommendation for approval). THE COMMISSION APPROVED ITEM 2A BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.

6. DEANA MASSEY, VMRC #2026-0060, requests authorization to install an 82-foot long and an 83-foot long marsh toe sill, backfilled with clean sand and native wetland plantings, for the construction of a living shoreline adjacent to 38 Point Cove Lane, situated along Bush Park Creek in Middlesex County. The project is protested by an adjacent property owner. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE PROJECT BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.

PAGE 2 ITEMS

2A. TUSCARORA BEACH ASSOCIATION, VMRC #2026-0676, requests authorization to extend an existing timber groin 10 feet landward at 194 Rio Vista Lane, situated along the Rappahannock River in Essex County. This project requires a VMRC Beach and Dune Permit. THE COMMISSION APPROVED THE PROJECT BY UNANIMOUS VOTE.