This proposed rulemaking specifies a separate start date of the commercial menhaden season for pound nets and fish weirs of June 1^st, annually at a reduced daily limit until the broader commercial menhaden fishery opens. Licensed operators of pound nets and fish weirs must mark their gears with buoys that include their full name and DMR Landings number and only that license holder may harvest from that marked gear.

All other gears are proposed to begin commercial menhaden harvesting on the third Monday of June, annually. This rulemaking proposes daily and/or weekly trip limits and open harvest days for the commercial fishery in each fishery phase: State Allocation, Episodic Event set aside, and Incidental Catch and Small Scale. Permissible gear types have been specified for the general menhaden fishery and specifically for the Incidental Catch and Small Scale Fishery as well as the Noncommercial menhaden fishery.  The proposed rule-making also includes a provision that would authorize the Commissioner to prohibit the commercial taking of menhaden for up to 14 days during the State Allocation fishery, if necessary to slow the rate at which the quota is caught.    

PUBLIC HEARING: February 27, 2023: 5:00 p.m. at DMR’s Augusta office (Marquardt Building, 32 Blossom Lane, Rm 118) and remotely via Microsoft Teams. If the February 27^th hearing is cancelled due to inclement weather an alternate hearing will be held on February 28^th at the same time, location, and format. Remote access information is posted to DMR’s website under “Meetings.”

COMMENT DEADLINE: March 10, 2023

The complete filing is available here.