Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-540. Pertaining to Spanish and King Mackerel (amending 4VAC20-540-30, 4VAC20-540-40, 4VAC20-540-50).

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

Agency Contact: Jennifer Farmer, Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 380 Fenwick Road, Fort Monroe, VA 23651, telephone (757) 247-2248, or email jennifer.farmer@mrc.virginia.gov.

Preamble:

The emergency action establishes a 500-pound daily per vessel bycatch provision in state waters for the Spanish mackerel commercial fishery to coincide with any federal waters closure announced by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

4VAC20-540-30. Possession Recreational possession limits established.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing with hook and line hook-and-line, hand line, rod and reel, spear or, gig, or other recreational gear to possess more than 15 Spanish mackerel or more than three king mackerel.

B. When fishing from a boat or vessel, where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limits shall be for the boat or vessel and shall be equal to the number of persons on board legally eligible to fish multiplied by 15 for Spanish mackerel or multiplied by three for king mackerel. The captain or operator of the boat or vessel shall be responsible for any boat or vessel possession limit.

C. The possession limit provisions established in this section shall not apply to persons harvesting Spanish mackerel or king mackerel with licensed commercial gear.

4VAC20-540-40. Minimum size limits established.

A. Minimum size limit for Spanish mackerel is established at 14 inches in total length.

B. Minimum size limit for king mackerel is established at 27 inches in total length.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, or possess any Spanish mackerel less than 14 inches in total length.

D. Except as provided in subsection E of this section it shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, or possess any king mackerel less than 27 inches in total length.

E. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the taking, catching, or possession of any king mackerel, less than 27 inches in total length, by a licensed pound net.

4VAC20-540-50. Trip Commercial trip limit established.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or land in Virginia any amount of Spanish mackerel in excess of 3,500 pounds from any vessel in any one day, except as specified in subsection B of this section.

B. When a commercial closure in federal waters for the Northern Zone Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel is announced by the National Marine Fisheries Service, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or land in Virginia any amount of Spanish mackerel in excess of 500 pounds from any vessel in any one day. This federal closure and state water per trip possession limit will be posted on the Marine Resources Commission website.