Chesapeake Bay News Freshwater Fishing NewsAtlantic coastal states from Massachusetts through Virginia have scheduled their hearings to gather public comment on Draft Addendum VI to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Tautog. The date, time, and location of the scheduled meeting for Virginia follows: Virginia Marine Resources Commission February 15, 2011; 6:00 PM 2600 Washington Avenue, 4th Floor Newport News, [...]
NOAA Fisheries Service has developed a brochure that offers guidelines on how to increase the survival of hook-and-line caught, large pelagic species. The objectives of careful catch and release include reducing stress and minimizing injury to a fish caught on hook-and-line, and assisting in its recovery prior to release. These objectives are especially challenging for [...]
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of public hearings and scoping meetings regarding fisheries management measure proposed for several federally managed species, including those within the snapper grouper management complex, dolphin (fish), wahoo, golden crab and octocorals within the South Atlantic region. These measures will impact both commercial and recreational fishermen [...]
Several bills dealing with menhaden have been introduced in the current session of the Virginia General Assembly. They include: SB765/HB2280 – Sen. Northam and Del. Cosgrove Would transfer the authority to execute ASMFC menhaden fishery management plans from the General Assembly to the VMRC where all other ASMFC directives are handled. http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?111+ful+SB765 HB1656 – Del. [...]
Billfish and tuna, important commercial and recreational fish species, may be more vulnerable to fishing pressure because of shrinking habitat according to a new study published by scientists from NOAA, the Billfish Foundation, and the University of Miami. An expanding zone of low oxygen, known as a hypoxic zone, in the Atlantic Ocean is encroaching [...]
The Salt Water Sportsman National Seminar Series will bring its DelMarVa edition to Va Beach on Saturday, January 22. The VA Beach Convention Center will host the 9 to 4, all– day presentation inside Ballroom One. George Povermo, Editor at Large for Salt Water Sportsman Magazine will headline the program, along with Ric Burnley, Regional [...]
NOAA’s National Weather Service has completed the testing phase for a new 1000-watt NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards transmitter, increasing service to areas that had limited or no coverage along the Virginia and Lower Maryland Eastern Shores. Now life-saving watch and warning services will be available to recreational and commercial mariners navigating the Atlantic coastal [...]
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) will implement a free state saltwater angler identification program in January of 2011 in order to exempt saltwater anglers from having to register yearly with the National Saltwater Angler Registry and pay an annual federal registration fee. The Virginia Fisherman Identification Program (FIP) will require unlicensed saltwater anglers age [...]
The Chesapeake Bay is showing encouraging signs of rebounding but is still in critical condition as a result of pollution, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s (CBF) 2010 State of the Bay Report. The report comes as the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is preparing to release its pollution budget designed to reduce pollution and [...]
NOAA Fisheries Service reminds tournament operators to register their Atlantic HMS tournaments for 2011 NOAA Fisheries Service is again reminding tournament operators to register their Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) tournaments for 2011. This includes tournaments occurring on the U.S. East Coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in the U.S. Caribbean. According to NOAA. [...]
