Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-450. Pertaining to the Taking of Bluefish (amending 4VAC20-450-10, 4VAC20-450-30).

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

Effective Date: July 1, 2012.

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 sets the commercial landings quota for bluefish from January 1 through December 31 at 1,225,649 pounds.

4VAC20-450-10. Purpose.

Stock assessment information indicates that bluefish stocks along the Atlantic Coast are fully exploited and show signs of declining abundance. One purpose The purposes of this chapter is are to control the recreational harvest of bluefish (which constitutes approximately 77% of the fishing coastwide) and to establish a commercial quota system for Virginia bluefish landings, in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and other coastal states, to prevent overfishing. A second purpose is to establish a commercial quota system for Virginia bluefish landings when the coastwide commercial fishery is projected to equal or exceed 20% of total (recreational and commercial) landings.

4VAC20-450-30. Commercial landings quota.

A. During the period of January 1 through December 31, commercial landings of bluefish shall be limited to 1,113,727 1,225,649 pounds.

B. When it is projected that 95% of the commercial landings quota has been realized, a notice will be posted to close commercial harvest and landings from the bluefish fishery within five days of posting.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest or land bluefish for commercial purposes after the closure date set forth in the notice described in subsection B of this section.