The Harbor & Shellfish Advisory Board discussed concerns about a newer pressure-plate or chain-sweep dredge design and agreed to a staff-led comparison study in May.

Tara said the department has ordered sample dredges and will work with Bill DePaul of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and local fishermen to compare the new dredges with traditional bar dredges during the spring survey dives. "So that's our plan so far," Tara said, describing a May timeline for spring survey dives and subsequent dredge trials.

Fishermen and board members expressed concern about how dredges are weighed at the dock and whether wet dredges, attached lines, shackles or seaweed can add weight. Dylan Wallace said a state-inspected digital scale produced different results than a dock weighing when a dredge was wet and contained eelgrass. Board members suggested rules should specify what is included or excluded when calculating dredge weight and that the warden or staff should untie and dry dredges before weighing when practical.

Several speakers asked staff to document the number of rings and structural differences that define legal dredges; one suggestion was to count the central rows of rings rather than outer sweep rows to limit effective dredge size. Board members also noted that the new dredge designs may fish cleaner in sand and be less disruptive in eelgrass but stressed that systematic testing is needed.

Why it matters: the design and weight of commercial dredges affect gear legality, eelgrass impacts and enforcement. The board agreed the department should complete the May study and then propose any necessary regulatory language changes in a comprehensive review scheduled before the next season.

Ending: Staff said they will carry out the May dredge comparisons with VIMS and fishermen, gather average weights, and return with findings to guide any regulatory edits; no regulatory changes were adopted at the Jan. 7 meeting.