The Virginia Marine Resources Commission invites public comment on a proposed regulation, "Pertaining to Blue Crab." The purpose of the proposed regulation is to reduce effort in the hard crab and peeler crab fisheries, improve enforcement of crab pot and peeler pot limits, and to increase the size of the spawning stock of blue crabs.

In accordance with §28.2-209 of the Code of Virginia, a public hearing on the adoption of the proposed amendments will be held at 12:00 Noon on Tuesday, May 25, 1999, at the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News, Virginia. Written comments on the proposals should be mailed to: Jack Travelstead, VMRC, Fisheries Management Division, P. O. Box 756, Newport News, Virginia 23607. A copy of the proposed regulation may be reviewed at the Commission, Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the proposed regulation may call the Commission at (757) 247-2248.

The Proposed Regulations Include the Following:

1. A moratorium on the sale of new licenses for crab pot, peeler pot, ordinary trot line, patent trot line, crab scrape, crab trap, crab dip net, and crab shed tank. The regulation also prohibits the issuance of crabbing licenses under hardship exceptions and prohibits the transfer of licenses from one registered commercial fisherman to another.

2. A prohibition on the placing, setting, or fishing of more than 200 peeler pots per licensed fisherman. The current limit is 400 pots per fisherman.

3. A requirement to tag each commercially licensed crab pot and peeler pot with a tamper-evident, serially-numbered tag issued by the Commission. Pots not so marked will be in violation of the regulation and will be confiscated.

4. The placement of minimum and maximum size limitations on the harvest and possession of mature female crabs.

5. The establishment of a 1:00 p.m. time of day limit on the fishing of crab pots and peeler pots.