Public Notice:  Proposed Regulations, June 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, June 28, 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, June 27, 2011.  Copies of the proposed regulations may be reviewed at the Commission Monday through Thursday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and may be obtained by calling the Commission at (757) 247-2248.

I.  Chapter 4VAC20-490-10 et seq. "Pertaining to Sharks".

The Commission proposes amendments to Regulation 4VAC20-490-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Sharks," that would:

a)  Establish a May 1, 2011, through April 30, 2012, spiny dogfish annual quota for Virginia of 2,148,224 pounds with an annual carry forward provision for up to five percent of non-harvested annual quota;
b)  Clarify that, at the point of landing, no more than 3,000 pounds of spiny dogfish, per vessel, per day, may be offloaded for commercial purposes;
c)  Require a weekly buyer report of landings for each registered commercial fisherman, to include that commercial fisherman's registration license number, and exact live weight of the species harvested, in pounds, until it is projected and announced that 80% of Virginia's spiny dogfish quota has been landed.  At that time, require buyers to call-in daily landings of spiny dogfish, until it is projected and announced that the Virginia spiny dogfish quota has been landed and closed;
d)  Establish a control date of April 30, 2011, to serve as a basis for future development of spiny dogfish regulations;
e)  Classify any smooth dogfish or unidentified dogfish harvest reported during the months of November through February, 2006 through 2008, as spiny dogfish, when determining eligibility for a spiny dogfish limited entry permit.

The proposed amendments are in response to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission's approval of state-specific quotas for the spiny dogfish southern region and the recommendations of the spiny dogfish sub-committee. 

II.  4VAC20-1260-10 et seq., "Pertaining to the Moratorium on River Herring"

The Commission proposes to establish a moratorium on the river herring species of alewife and blueback herring, effective January 1, 2012.  During the moratorium it shall be unlawful for any person to catch, harvest, land, sell or offer for sale any river herring.  These proposed regulations are in response to the status of the resource and are necessary to comply with the provisions of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for River Herring, established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

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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.