Our Mission: The Marine Resources Commission serves as stewards of Virginia's marine and aquatic resources, and protectors of its tidal waters and homelands, for present and future generations.
Did You Know?
The Marine Resources Commission is a State Agency with approximately 150 Employees. We are
headquartered in Newport News, Virginia and have been established since
1875.
We are comprised of four divisions: Marine Police, Fisheries
Management, Habitat Management, and Administration and Finance.
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February 4, 2010: VDH has announced a revision of its emergency
shellfish closure for the Rappahannock River. Floodwaters from heavy rains during January 24-25, 2010 required issuance of an Emergency Shellfish Closure for the Rappahannock River. This revised emergency closure is effective Thursday February 4, 2010 and will remain in effect until seawater sampling results allow these waters to return to their previous classification status.
<Revised Emergency Shellfish Closure # 068F>
January 27, 2010: Last year was another banner year for saltwater fishing in Virginia! Anglers registered 5,191 trophy-size fish for citation awards during the 52nd Annual Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, which ended December 31.
For the tenth year in a row, anglers registered at least 5,000 citations since the Tournament began in 1958, yet more proof that Virginia has some of the best saltwater fishing in the country. <Press
Release>
January 26, 2010: The Virginia Marine Resources Commission has voted unanimously to considering lowering the size limit for the 2010 summer flounder season. The Commission agreed to advertise for three options to be discussed at next month's public hearing. The options are for an 18.5 inch size limit with either a five or four flounder daily creel limit, or for an 18 inch, five-fish limit with a closed season from June 7 to July 11. The current size limit is 19 inches with a five fish creel limit. The flounder stock has improved, which permits a loosening of regulations this year. <Meeting Summary>
January 26, 2010: The Virginia Department of Health announced today that the James River and a portion of the Rappahannock River will be closed to shellfish harvesting due to flooding in those rivers. The emergency closure is effective January 27, 2010. The James River will be closed down to the vicinity of the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, Interstate 664. The Rappahannock River will be closed down to a line extending from Monaskon on the north shore to Stove Point on the south shore. Maps of the affected areas are posted on the Division of Shellfish Sanitation’s home page at www.vdh.virginia.gov/EnvironmentalHealth/Shellfish/. The affected shellfish are bivalve mollusks including oysters and clams, but not crabs or fin fish. [VDH Press Release]
January 25, 2010: NOAA Fisheries Service has announced the commercial quota and recreational harvest
limits for summer flounder, effective January 1, 2010. <Flounder
Notice>
January 22, 2010: The National Marine Fisheries Service has closed the
spiny dogfish fishery for vessels with federal permits, effective 12:01 a.m. on
January 26, 2010. <Closure
Notice>
January 11, 2010: Governor Tim Kaine issued Executive
Order 101 (2009) on November 11, 2009 that declared a state of emergency
to exist for the Commonwealth of Virginia based on severe weather from prolonged
periods of wet and windy weather from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida and a
coastal Nor’easter causing widespread power outages, flooding and
transportation difficulties throughout the State. Pursuant to Governor Kaine's
Executive Order 106 (2009), VMRC has established a Joint Permit Application for
emergency authorization to reconstruct previously permitted structures destroyed
by this storm. You may retrieve this form by accessing the following
link: Emergency JPA 2010
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