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SMAC recommends allowing mechanically assisted hand tongs for clean‑cull only; motion to forward to commission
Summary
After presentations and video demonstrations, the Shellfish Management Advisory Committee voted to recommend that VMRC allow mechanically assisted hand tongs for clean‑cull operations only; committee members said the devices ease physical strain but do not increase catch limits and staff will forward the recommendation to the commission.
The Shellfish Management Advisory Committee considered whether to permit mechanically assisted hand tongs, devices that use an electric or small motor‑assisted pull to help raise tongs against the current. JC (committee presenter) said Virginia does not currently allow mechanically assisted hand tongs though they are permitted in Maryland and on the Potomac. JC said proponents view the devices as an optional accommodation for older harvesters or those with injuries and emphasized they do not change bag limits or the need to guide tongs during harvest.
Committee members watched demonstration footage from Maryland and heard from watermen who have used such rigs. Mike (commercial harvester) said the rigs ‘‘don’t hurt’’ and won’t increase catch volumes because the operator must still guide and load the tongs. After discussion, SMAC member moved to recommend mechanically assisted hand tongs be allowed for clean‑cull (clean call) operations only; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. The motion did not specify technical standards; staff said they will draft regulatory language and present it to the commission.
Why it matters: committee members framed the change as a safety and access accommodation for aging harvesters or those with injuries rather than a gear‑efficiency gain. Limiting the allowance to clean‑cull operations was intended to avoid changes to quota or seed harvest sectors.
Action taken: SMAC voted to recommend allowing mechanically assisted hand tongs for clean‑cull operations only and asked staff to draft regulatory language to forward to the commission for consideration.
Ending: staff will prepare draft regulatory language that captures the committee’s direction and present it to the commission in the regular rule process.
