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Subcommittee approves bill letting VMRC manage shrimp and horseshoe-crab trawling up to three miles offshore
Summary
The Chesapeake subcommittee voted unanimously to report House Bill 1697, which removes seasonal restrictions and lets the Virginia Marine Resources Commission manage trawl permits for shrimp and horseshoe-crab fisheries within three miles of Virginia's Atlantic shore.
Delegate Askew, a member of the House, told the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee’s Chesapeake subcommittee that House Bill 1697 would “eliminate outdated seasonal restrictions on shrimp and horseshoe crab trolling within 3 miles of Virginia's Atlantic shoreline,” shifting management discretion to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC).
The bill, as explained by VMRC Commissioner Jamie Greene during the hearing, is intended to be limited to the shrimp and horseshoe-crab fisheries and to “clean[] the language up a little bit inside of where we already regulate the fishery,” not to expand trawling into other fisheries. Greene said the proposal does not add other fisheries into trawl authorization.
Members asked clarifying questions about scope and existing prohibitions. Delegate Weber sought confirmation that VMRC would retain oversight and that the change specifically expanded the distance for shrimp and horseshoe-crab trawling to three miles; Greene and Askew confirmed both points. The sponsor told the subcommittee the bill preserves existing Chesapeake Bay trawling prohibitions.
No members of the public testified in opposition or offered additional remarks. The subcommittee moved to report the bill to the full committee; the clerk closed the roll and recorded the measure as reported, 9-0.
The measure’s immediate effect is procedural: it changes statutorily stated geographic limits and delegates authority for those two fisheries to VMRC within the three‑mile offshore zone. The subcommittee did not amend the bill’s text during this session. The Commission will continue to exercise permitting and regulatory roles under existing VMRC rules.
Votes at a glance: House Bill 1697 — Motion to report as introduced; roll-call recorded 9 yes, 0 no. The committee did not record any amendments or conditions.
Provenance: This article is based on the delegate’s presentation beginning at transcript block starting 865.005 (“Thank you, Mr. Chair… HB 1697… This bill will eliminate…”) and the committee’s final roll call at block starting 1056.955 (“That bill reports 9 to 0.”).
