Publice Notice: Pertaining to Black Sea Bass and Various Regs 2003
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on
proposed amendments to the regulations 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,
September 23 (postponed to October 7,2003), 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. 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.
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS
I. Regulation 4 VAC 20-950-10 et seq., "Pertaining
to Black Sea Bass."
The Commission proposes to modify the management provisions and harvest
restrictions for black sea bass in the 2004 commercial
fishery. The Commission will consider a broad array of
options ranging from quarterly quotas, with daily or weekly trip
limits, to modifications of the current Individual Fishing Quota system.
II. Regulation 4 VAC 20-620-10 ET SEQ. "Pertaining to
Summer Flounder"
At the request of Industry, the Commission proposes to modify the
starting date for the directed portion of the Fourth Quarter and
increase the possession limit to assure the full utilization of
Virginia's Summer flounder quota.
1) It is proposed that the landing
period that currently extends from the first Monday in November to
December 31 be changed to extend from the last Monday in October to
December 31.
2) It is proposed to increase the
cumulative ten-day possession limit from 7,500 pounds to 10,000 pounds.
III. Chapter 4 VAC 20-720-10 et seq., "Pertaining to Restrictions on
Oyster Harvest"
Proposed Amendments:
1) The Commission proposes the
following open harvest seasons, for 2004 and beyond:
James River Seed and Clean Cull Area
(Hand Tong only): October 1 - April 30
Seaside of Eastern Shore: (By
Hand Only) November 1 - January 31
Piankatank River, west of the Route 3
bridge; Corrotoman River north of Balls Point and Corrotoman Pt.;
Nomini, Lower Machodoc, Coan, Yeocomico, and Little Wicomico Rivers
(Hand Tong only); October 15 - January 15
Rappahannock River Drumming Ground Hand
Scrape Area and Rappahannock River Temple Bay (Hand Scrape Area):
Rappahannock River Hand Scrape Area: October 15 - January 31
Deep Rock Dredge Area:
March 1 - March 31
Portions of Pocomoke/Tangier
Sounds: December 1 - January 31
2) Allow a 250 daily bycatch of hard
clams in the Pocomoke Sound and Tangier Sound and Deep Rock Dredge Area
(4 VAC 20-720-80).
3) Removal of the loss of license
penalty for failure of reporting daily catch in the Pocomoke and
Tangier Sound Management Area (4 VAC 20-720-80).
IV. Regulation 4 VAC 20-650 "PERTAINING TO
ESTABLISHMENT OF OYSTER MANAGEMENT AREAS"
Proposed Amendment:
Prohibits harvesting shellfish within 300 feet of the marked,
constructed reef.
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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 LESS THAN FIVE WORK
DAYS PRIOR
TO THE MEETING TIME AND IDENTIFY YOUR NEEDS.
