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VMRC allows two shrimp gear applicants into Eastern Shore permit pool after commission motion
Summary
The commission voted to admit Michael (Mike) Shackleford and Jason Smith into the Eastern Shore shrimp permit allocation after staff clarified a July change requiring gear inspection had excluded some applicants; the motion carried unanimously and staff will proceed with the administrative steps.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Sept. 23 voted to permit two applicants—Michael (Mike) Shackleford and Jason Smith—into the Eastern Shore shrimp trawl permit pool after commissioners heard that both had purchased gear but lacked staff inspection records required by a July commission action.
Commissioners said a proviso added at the July meeting—requiring gear inspection records—had unintentionally excluded several watermen who had purchased trawl gear before the July threshold but had not yet completed VMRC inspection steps. Chief Kenyon and other staff explained the provision and confirmed the two applicants met the other permit requirements but had not completed the inspection step that staff had been directed to require in July.
Associate Member Headley moved to allow Michael Shackleford and Jason Smith into the shrimp fishery under the Eastern Shore permit allocation, a motion seconded by Associate Member White. Commissioners voted 7‑0 to admit the two applicants. Staff told the two men to follow up with the Coastal Marine Advisory Committee (CMAC) and VMRC staff for any remaining procedural steps including final gear inspection scheduling.
Staff said they will later bring a regulatory cleanup item to the commission to clarify Chapter 13.950 and the maximum number of shrimp bridal licenses (listed in the meeting as 17) so the regulation text clearly matches permit counts and program administration.
Commissioners emphasized their intent was to avoid unfairly excluding watermen who had invested in gear before the July revision and to address administrative consequences without expanding the permit pool beyond established regulatory limits without proper notice.
