4VAC20-950 Pertaining to Black Sea Bass

REGULATIONS

Vol. 31 Iss. 12 - February 09, 2015

TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION

Chapter 950

Final Regulation

REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Marine Resources Commission is claiming an exemption from the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 11 of the Code of Virginia; however, the commission is required to publish the full text of final regulations.

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-950. Pertaining to Black Sea Bass (amending 4VAC20-950-47).

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

Effective Date: January 31, 2015.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone [phone], FAX [phone], or email [e-mail].

Summary:

The amendments establish the annual commercial black sea bass directed fishery quota as 402,584 pounds and the annual commercial black sea bass bycatch fishery quota as 40,000 pounds.

4VAC20-950-47. Commercial harvest quotas.

A. The 2014 annual commercial black sea bass directed fishery quota is 394,000 402,584 pounds. When it has been announced that the directed fishery quota has been projected as reached and the directed fishery has been closed, it shall be unlawful for any directed commercial black sea bass fishery permittee to possess aboard any vessel or land in Virginia any black sea bass.

B. The 2014 annual commercial black sea bass bycatch fishery quota is 40,000 pounds. When it has been announced that the bycatch fishery quota has been projected as reached and the bycatch fishery has been closed, it shall be unlawful for any bycatch commercial black sea bass fishery permittee to possess aboard any vessel or land in Virginia any black sea bass. In the event the bycatch fishery quota is exceeded, the amount of the quota overage shall be deducted from the following year's bycatch fishing quota.

VA.R. Doc. No. R15-4270; Filed January 28, 2015, 2:17 p.m.