The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on proposed amendments to Regulations 4 VAC 20-252-10 ET SEQ., "Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass".
Purpose: The purposes of the proposed amendments, shown below, are to comply with an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries (ASMFC) mandate, specified by Addendum V to Amendment 5 of the Interstate Fishery management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass, that requires states to choose between preferred management measures for implementation for the 2001-2002 period and establish uniformity in recreational management measures between the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and Virginia.
In accordance with §;28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the adoption of the proposed amendments will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, January 23, 2000, 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, VA 23607. A copy of the proposed regulation may be reviewed at the Commission during Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 P.M. Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the proposed regulation may call the Commission at (757) 247-2248.
Either ASMFC option shown below may be chosen for implementation by the Commission, and the ASMFC has established that any chosen option will be in effect for two years, 2001 and 2002.
Option 1: States will be required to implement management measures that are identical or equivalent (through conservation equivalency) to the benchmarks that were in place during the 1998/99 period.
Option 2: States will be required to implement management measures that are identical or equivalent (through conservation equivalency) to the benchmarks that were in place during 2000.
In addition, the Commission will consider a proposal to modify the current minimum size limit (32 inches) for the Potomac River Tributaries Spring Trophy-size Striped Bass Recreational Fishery
and the current minimum size limit (18 inches) and maximum size limit which applies to one of the 2-fish possession limit (34 inches) for the Potomac River Tributaries Fall Striped Bass Recreational Fishery, by establishing those size limits as equivalents to those established by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission for the mainstem Potomac River.
