2012 VA Flounder Regs

[jffoley]

Got this in the email this morning...

A public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held at 12:00 noon, on Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia. Written comments on the proposals should be sent to Jack Travelstead, VMRC Fisheries Management Division, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, Virginia 23607, by 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 27, 2012. Copies of the proposed regulations may be reviewed at the Commission Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and may be obtained by calling the Commission at (757) 247-2248.

I. Chapter 4 VAC20-620-10 et seq., “Pertaining to Summer Flounder”.

The Commission proposes 4 options, for management of the 2012 recreational summer flounder fishery. The 2011 fishery was managed by a 17 ½ inches minimum size limit, 4 fish possession limit, with no closed season. The 4 options for the 2012 fishery are:

A) 17 ½ inches minimum size limit, 5 fish possession limit and no closed season
B) 17 inches minimum size limit, 5 fish possession limit and no closed season
C) 17 inches minimum size limit, 4 fish possession limit and no closed season
D) 16 ½ inches minimum size limit, 4 fish possession limit and no closed season

The purpose of this proposed amendment is to comply with interstate requirements approved by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

CCA Virginia urges you to take an opportunity to comment. You should send your favorite choice of a option to VMRC that will be given to the voting members of VMRC by February 27th at 5:00PM at the latest so they can be considered at the February 28thCommission meeting.

Your comments can be emailed, faxed or mailed to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission using the information below.

Email: jack.travelstead@mrc.virginia.gov

Fax: 757-247-8101

Postal Mail: Virginia Marine Resources Commission
2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor
Newport News, VA 23607
Attn. Jack Travelstead

Please include your name, address, phone number and email address so that your comments can be validated by VMRC.

[tufnik]

Not sure what they're trying to do. Is the problem too many fishes were caught? Would be interesting to see what the fishery impact will be with the subtle changes in options.

[jffoley]

More info from VMRC:

Since 2008, Virginia has been conservative in our summer flounder regulations and we have been under quota by at least 30 % for the last four years. While landings in Virginia were 53% under target in 2011, we are still held to an 18% decrease in our 2012 target (quota) due to coast-wide issues with overfishing. The good news is that the population’s spawning stock biomass has reached the restored target of 132.4 million pounds. The 2012 target has been established as 466,000 summer flounder. Because the 2011 landings are estimated at 268,684 fish, we are able to liberalize our landings by 74% in order to attain the 2012 quota. In 2011, Virginia’s recreational management measures included a 17 1/2” minimum size limit, a 4 fish possession limit, and no closed season.