Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-1120. Pertaining to Tilefish and Grouper (adding 4VAC20-1120-31, 4VAC20-1120-32).

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

Effective Date: July 1, 2009.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendment establishes a requirement to obtain a Tilefish and Grouper Landing Permit to possess and land grouper and tilefish in Virginia and also requires the reporting of recreational harvests of tilefish and grouper when landed in Virginia.

4VAC20-1120-31. Recreational landing permit.

It shall be unlawful to possess aboard or to land from any private recreational fishing vessel, charter boat, or head boat, any tilefish or grouper harvested recreationally without first having obtained a Tilefish and Grouper Landing Permit for that vessel from the Marine Resources Commission. Such permit shall be completed in full by the vessel owner or operator, approved by the commissioner or his designee, and a copy shall be kept with the permittee while tilefish or grouper is in the possession of that permittee.

4VAC20-1120-32. Recreational mandatory harvest reporting.

A. It shall be unlawful for any registered Tilefish and Grouper Landing Permittee, as described in 4VAC20-1120-31, to fail to fully report harvests and related information as set forth in this chapter and as provided by 4VAC20-610-60.

B. Registered Tilefish and Grouper Landing Permittees shall complete a daily form that accurately enumerates and legibly describes that permittee's daily harvest from Virginia tidal and federal waters. The form used to record daily harvest shall be that provided by the commission or approved by the commission.

C. Registered Tilefish and Grouper Landing Permittees shall submit a monthly harvest report to the commission no later than the fifth day of the following month. This report shall be accompanied by the daily harvest records described in subsection D of this section. Completed forms shall be mailed or delivered to the commission or other designated locations.

D. The monthly harvest report and daily harvest records from registered Tilefish and Grouper Landing Permittees shall include the name and signature of the registered Tilefish and Grouper Landing Permittee and his license number; date of harvest; city or county of landing; water body fished; gear type and amount used; number of hours fished; number of individuals on board, including captain; species harvested; number of discard by species; live weight of each individual species harvested; and vessel identification (Coast Guard documentation number, Virginia license number, or hull/VIN number).