VMRC approves new cobia rules: minimum size raised to 43 inches, season tweaked to match region

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on March 25 approved amendments to 4 VAC 20-5-10 to revise the recreational season and minimum size for cobia, voting 7-0 to accept staff recommendations.

Commission staff said the changes — keeping a two-fish-per-vessel limit, raising the minimum size from 40 to 43 inches and changing the season end date from Sept. 15 to Sept. 20 — are intended to meet required reductions in Addendum 2 to Amendment 1 of the interstate fisheries management plan for migratory-group cobia. VMRC staff framed the measures as part of a regional implementation plan due April 1.

VMRC staff member Matt, who presented the plan, said Virginia has become the “epicenter for cobia on the East Coast” and that the state’s stronger recreational harvest compared with other states shaped the consultation with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and Mid-Atlantic councils. He told the commission that under older, state-by-state allocations Virginia would have faced a roughly 49% reduction; under the new regional allocation the required reduction for the northern region falls to about 15.9%.

The staff presentation explained how the regional approach and several management options were considered: raising the minimum size to 43 inches produced the largest single savings (about 20.5% in staff estimates), allowing modest adjustments to season timing, and retaining the two-fish vessel limit that is current practice in Virginia. Staff also described an optional Virginia-only allowance that had permitted one fish over 50 inches per vessel; the technical committee said there was insufficient information to quantify savings from keeping that optional allowance, and staff recommended aligning Virginia with the regional measures instead of retaining the optional allowance.

The Finfish Management Advisory Committee unanimously supported the staff recommendation. VMRC received 15 written public comments before the deadline: one in favor and 14 opposed. Several commenters raised concerns about gaffing and the distribution of season days (five extra days in September versus one extra day in June), which staff said would not be equivalent in catch value because catch rates in June are typically higher in Virginia than in September.

Associate member Branson praised staff work at the meeting: “I appreciate the great work your staff does and your actions with the Atlantic States,” he said, while other commissioners pressed staff for details about stock assessments and implementation timing. When asked whether the recreational cobia fishery is currently overfished, VMRC staff said, “No. Right now, it’s not,” but also noted that the next coastwide stock assessment is delayed and the timing for updated science is uncertain.

The commission’s formal action was a motion by Associate Member Erskine, seconded by Associate Member Branson, to approve the staff recommendation to amend 4 VAC 20-5-10; the motion passed 7-0. The commission’s approval directs staff to adopt the proposed regulatory language to comply with Addendum 2 to Amendment 1 and to participate in the northern-region implementation plan required by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Officials said the ASMFC-approved regional allocation and a required implementation plan will determine exact season windows and complementary measures among northern states (Rhode Island through Virginia). Staff emphasized that some implementation details (and any further coastwide quota decisions) await additional assessments and inter-state agreements.

The commission’s approval makes Virginia’s cobia recreational season and size rules consistent with the new regional approach and starts the state-level regulatory process to publish the amended language in VAC 4 20-5-10. Staff said implementation tasks include submitting the northern-region plan by the ASMFC deadline and coordinating season dates with Maryland and the Potomac River states.

Votes at a glance

- Action: Approve staff recommendation to amend 4 VAC 20-5-10 to revise recreational cobia season and minimum size to comply with Addendum 2 to Amendment 1. Motion by Associate Member Erskine; second by Associate Member Branson. Outcome: Approved, 7-0.

Ending

The commission’s action aligns Virginia with the interstate addendum intended to reduce recreational harvest relative to the recent three-year average. VMRC staff said the new regional allocation reduces the immediate reduction that Virginia would otherwise face; they also warned that major changes in coastwide quotas would require updated stock-assessment information that is not yet available. The commission’s staff and advisory committee will follow ASMFC’s implementation timetable and return to the commission as needed with regulatory language and compliance details.