Publice Notice: Pertaining to Sharks 2005
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on the
proposed amendments to Regulation 4 VAC 20-490-10 ET SEQ."PERTAINING TO
SHARKS," as listed below.
In accordance with §28.2-209 of
the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the proposed amendments will
be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 at the 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,
November 21, 2005. Copies of the proposed amendments 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.
The
following proposed amendments are offered for public comment and either
supersede current provisions or establish new regulatory
requirements:style="color: navy;"
Regulation 4 VAC 20-490-10 et seq. "PERTAINING TO SHARKS"
4 VAC 20-490-20. DEFINITIONS:
The
definition of carcass length is proposed for elimination from the
regulation, while a definition of dressed weight is proposed to be
added to the regulation, and the definitions of fork length and
longline are proposed for modification. In addition, the single
grouping of all shark species is proposed for modification, by defining
4 groups of shark species: Large Coastal Shark Group; Pelagic Shark
Group; Prohibited Shark Group; and, Small Coastal Shark Group. Also,
Smooth Dogfish are proposed for exclusion as a defined shark species.
4 VAC 20-490-40. RECREATIONAL CATCH LIMITATIONS:
A.
The taking, catching, or possessing aboard a vessel of more than one
shark, from either the large coastal, small coastal, or pelagic group,
per day or the possession of more than one Atlantic sharpnose shark and
one bonnethead shark per person per day shall constitute a violation of
this regulation. When fishing from any boat or vessel where the entire
catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limits for
Atlantic sharpnose shark or bonnethead shark shall be for the boat or
vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally
eligible to fish. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall
be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limits.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to retain or possess any prohibited shark.
C.
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any shark, except
Atlantic sharpnose and bonnethead sharks, landed under the recreational
catch limitations described in this section, that is less than 54
inches fork length.
D. It shall be unlawful, for any person
taking or landing a shark, under the recreational catch
limitations described in this section, to remove its head, tail
or fins.
4 VAC 20-490-41. COMMERCIAL CATCH LIMITATIONS:In
addition to the management provisions described below, the Commission
will consider limiting the number of licenses and permits it issues for
the large coastal shark, small coastal shark and pelagic shark
fisheries. Such limitations may cap or reduce the number of
fishermen that are eligible to harvest or to land sharks in Virginia.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to possess on board a vessel or to
land in Virginia more than 4,000 pounds, dressed weight, of large
coastal sharks per day. The person who owns or operates the
vessel is responsible for compliance with the provisions of this
subsection.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to fillet a
shark at sea. A licensed commercial fisherman may eviscerate and remove
the head and fins of sharks, but shall retain the fins with the dressed
carcasses. While on board and when offloaded, wet shark fins shall not
exceed 5 percent of the dressed weight of the carcasses.
Possession of wet shark fins on board a vessel or at offloading that
exceeds 5 percent of the dressed weight of the carcasses shall
constitute a violation of this regulation.
C. There are no commercial trip limits or possession limits for pelagic or small coastal sharks.
D. It shall be unlawful, for any person, to retain, possess or purchase any prohibited shark.
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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 DEBORAH
CAWTHON (757) 247-2248 NO LATER THAN FIVE WORK DAYS PRIOR TO THE MEETING
DATE AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.