Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-450. Pertaining to the Taking of Bluefish (amending 4VAC20-450-10, 4VAC20-450-20, 4VAC20-450-30).

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

Effective Date: August 1, 2014.

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 amendments establish the Virginia 2014 commercial bluefish quota as 886,040 pounds and clarify the regulation.

4VAC20-450-10. Purpose.

The purposes of this chapter are to control manage the recreational harvest of bluefish and to establish a commercial quota system for Virginia bluefish landings, in cooperation with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and other coastal states the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, to prevent overfishing.

4VAC20-450-20. Bluefish possession limit.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing with recreational hook and line, rod and reel, spear, gig, or other recreational gear to harvest and possess more than 10 bluefish. Any bluefish taken after the possession limit of 10 fish has been reached shall be returned to the water immediately.

B. When fishing from a 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 licensed to fish multiplied by 10. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit.

4VAC20-450-30. Commercial landings quota.

A. During the period of January 1 through December 31, commercial landings of bluefish shall be limited to 1,078,179 pounds in 2013 and 1,030,419 886,040 pounds in 2014.

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.