FMAC tables broad electrofishing changes for blue catfish, creates stakeholder work group

The Fisheries Management Advisory Committee heard a lengthy presentation on blue catfish harvest and the commercial electrofishing fishery and then took public comment from watermen, charter captains and processors before deciding to table broad regulatory changes and form a small stakeholder work group.

VMRC staff presented data showing blue catfish harvest has risen in recent years (exceeding 3 million pounds in 2023) and described the current regulated electrofishing fishery (three licenses tied to the James, Pamunkey and Rappahannock rivers). Staff outlined options: expand or remove area restrictions, alter license eligibility, remove size limits on electrofishing (which currently limits large fish), and clarify proximity prohibitions tied to public boat ramps or fishing piers. Staff also described market and processing constraints (USDA inspection rules and limited cold‑storage capacity) that complicate the ability to absorb substantially higher harvests.

Commercial and recreational stakeholders expressed sharply different priorities. James Fisher, a long‑time pound‑netter, said the recent increase in electrofishing effort had a direct and immediate economic impact on fixed‑gear harvests: "It's destroying my living," he said, describing dramatic drops in pound‑net landings in affected months. Charter captains described electrofishing’s localized impact on angling: Christian Moore said that when shock boats operate near his fishing grounds "the fish become inactive... Electrofishing shuts down the bite." Captain Mike Ostrander urged caution on removing size restrictions, arguing such changes would not be "sustainable" for charter businesses and noting health guidance that recommends limits on consumption of very large fish.

Given the mix of market, gear‑conflict and proximity issues, committee members agreed more analysis and stakeholder negotiation were needed. The committee moved to table comprehensive regulatory changes and instead directed staff to convene a stakeholder work group (suggested size: 6–8 participants) including charter captains, fixed‑gear commercial watermen, electrofisher representatives, law enforcement and processors to examine landings data, catch-per-unit-effort trends, and reasonable proximity buffers. Staff said they will try to assemble the group and aim for a spring meeting; the committee also discussed a March meeting to address other calendar items. The committee asked staff to explore whether confidential harvest records can be analyzed to determine correlations between electrofishing effort and declines in fixed‑gear landings while protecting proprietary information.

What it means: FMAC did not adopt sweeping regulatory changes tonight. Instead, the work group will provide data, stakeholder input and draft proximity options to inform future regulatory proposals. VMRC staff noted regulatory changes and clarifications may require months under current procedural timelines.