Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-510. Pertaining to Amberjack and Cobia (amending 4VAC20-510-25).

Statutory Authority: §§ 28.2-201 and 28.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Dates: December 15, 2016, through January 14, 2017.

Agency Contact: Jennifer Farmer, Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, or email jennifer.farmer@mrc.virginia.gov.

Preamble:

The amendments close the commercial fishing season for cobia from December 15, 2016, through December 31, 2016.

4VAC20-510-25. Commercial fishery possession limits and cobia fishing season.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing commercially to possess more than two amberjack or more than two cobia at any time, except as described in 4VAC20-510-33. Any amberjack or cobia caught after the possession limit has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately. When fishing from any boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit shall be for the boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by two. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit.

B. The 2016 commercial fishery season for cobia shall extend from January 1, 2016, through December 14, 2016.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing commercially to harvest, possess, or land cobia in 2016 except during the lawful 2016 commercial fishery season described in subsection B of this section.