Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
VMRC meeting roundup: permits approved, shell sale to Potomac River project and new fishing rules adopted
Loading...
Summary
At the April 22 meeting the commission approved multiple pier permits, agreed to sell fossil shell to support a Potomac River oyster revitalization, funded derelict vessel removals, adopted new rules for an extended drift gillnet license and implemented federal-required restrictions on spiny dogfish gillnet overnight soaks.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission took several operational and regulatory actions on April 22, approving shoreline permits, grant requests and regulatory changes intended to support habitat projects and fisheries management.
Key results: - Pier and waterfront permits: VMRC approved several private pier actions after staff review and public comment. Notable approvals included an 80-foot commercial pier and roofs for a commercial property (JC Vineyard in Northumberland County) and other private pier roof requests in King & Queen County and Sandbridge (Virginia Beach). Staff said the projects were consistent with state statutory allowances for privately authorized piers; protest letters were recorded for several items and considered in staff reports.
- Potomac River oyster support: The commission agreed to support the Potomac River Fisheries Commission (PRFC) plan to establish oyster seed areas by approving the sale of fossil shell and committing partnership support. The action follows a matching allocation of funds from Maryland and a prior Virginia appropriation; VMRC will advance funds under a grant agreement and monitor receipts and project delivery.
- Derelict vessel grants: VMRC approved advance funding requests to localities for removal of abandoned and derelict boats, including five vessels proposed for removal by the City of Virginia Beach and two additional local removals. Grant agreements require reimbursement documentation and return of unused funds to VMRC.
- Extended drift gillnet license (Spanish mackerel / bluefish): The commission adopted a new license category for extended drift gillnets (up to 6,000 feet) with seasonal and gear restrictions after a multiyear experimental program. The commission set the initial season May 1–Oct. 15 and required specific marking and safety measures for the gear. VMRC staff said observers and logbooks from the experimental program showed the gear targeted Spanish mackerel and bluefish efficiently with limited bycatch. The commission discussed potential quota interactions and will track state and federal limits.
- Spiny dogfish: To comply with federal and interstate measures aimed at reducing Atlantic sturgeon bycatch, VMRC adopted amendments prohibiting overnight soaks (overnight deployments) for gillnets of mesh equal to or greater than 5.25 inches and less than 10 inches in two designated bycatch‑reduction areas during Nov. 1–March 31. The change follows a regional ASMFC/NMFS framework and required consistent wording and coordinates.
Why it matters: The package of approvals balances immediate industry needs (pier repairs, a new gillnet license) with conservation or public‑interest priorities (oyster restoration financing and derelict vessel removal). Some measures — notably the extended drift gillnet license and the spiny dogfish soak prohibition — will require active monitoring by staff to ensure compliance with state and federal quotas and to track bycatch.
What comes next: Staff will execute grant agreements and publish the formal decisions and rule changes in the Virginia Register of Regulations. The extended drift gillnet category will be tracked with observer data and logbooks, and VMRC will coordinate with ASMFC and NOAA on quota status and any needed closures.
