Press Room
Archived
Press Releases 2008-2009
 

 
Date Posted:

Subject:

November 20, 2009

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting

Aug 27, 2009

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting

July 31, 2009

Proposed Amendments To The Regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission September 10, 2009

July 28, 2009

Oyster/Clam Advisory Committee Meeting

May 28, 2009

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting

May 5, 2009

Crab Advisory Committee Meeting

May 4, 2009

Proposed Amendments To The Regulations of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission

January 29, 2009

Finfish Advisory Committee Meeting

January 13, 2009

Crab Advisory Committee Meeting

November 21, 2008

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting

Oct 28, 2008

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Posted Notice of Closure

Oct 24, 2008

Proposed Amendments To The Regulations

Aug 28, 2008

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting

May 1, 2008

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting

April 10, 2008

Potomac River Fisheries Commission Notice of Hearing

February 1, 2008

 Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting

 



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted November 20, 2009


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman Robert H. Bowes announced today the Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold its next regular meeting on Friday, December 4, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Bowes invites all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.

Items on the agenda for the regular meeting include but are not limited to: reports on the fall oyster harvest, annual oyster survey and a crab harvest report. The Commission will establish the recreational and commercial striped bass seasons, gear and size limits as well as most other finfish species. There will be an update on the National Saltwater Angler Registry and an update of the ASMFC annual meeting. A hearing will be held for persons delinquent in filing their seafood harvest reports.

The Colonial Beach Art Guild will have artwork displayed from December 3rd through December 30th in the John T. Parran Hearing Room. Visitors are welcome during normal business hours.

PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 no later than three workdays prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.




Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted August 27, 2009


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman Robert H. Bowes announced today that the Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold its next regular meeting along with a public hearing on Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Bowes invites all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.

The advertised public hearing will deal with the Potomac River oyster fishery in light of the final decision of the EIS to limit restoration efforts to only native oysters. The Commission will have a full range of options for consideration, from a complete harvest moratorium, to changing the season dates or times, to changing size limits, to allowing power hand scraping in additional areas, to adding additional sanctuaries areas or any combination thereof.

Items on the agenda include but are not limited to: a crab harvest report; a report from the Oyster/Clam Advisory Committee, a presentation of the American Eel YOY survey and a summary of the August ASMFC meeting.

Other items on the agenda also include: adopting the 2009-2010 gill net season, restrictions and limits, advisory committee vacancies, an update of the pre-payable fine schedule and a delinquent seafood catch report hearing.

Mrs. Barbara Stepura, an artist from the Mattawoman Creek Art Center, will have artwork displayed in the John T. Parran Hearing Room from September 1st through September 30, 2009. Visitors are welcomed during normal business hours.

PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 at least three work days prior to the meeting date and identify your needs



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS of the
POTOMAC RIVER FISHERIES COMMISSION September 10, 2009
Posted July 31, 2009

Pursuant to the Potomac River Compact of 1958, as duly enacted into law by the General Assemblies of the States of Maryland and Virginia and duly ratified by the Congress of the United States of America, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission hereby proposes to amend, adopt and/or repeal all oyster fishery regulations and orders, which are Regulation I, Sections 2 and 5 and all of Regulation II, Sections 1 through 7 and Order 2008-11, as appropriate and necessary to achieve any one or combination of the options listed below:

Options for this public hearing will include the following:

  1.  A moratorium on oystering in specific area(s) up to and including the entire Potomac River.

2.  Change the opening and closing season dates and/or times (i.e., shorten the season/times).

3.  Status quo, where the Regulations will remain as they were during the 2008-09 season.

4.  Open Jones Shore to hand scraping.

5.  Changing the minimum size limit, establish a maximum size limit, and/or a slot limit.

6.  Opening new area(s) up to and including the entire river to hand scraping.

7.  Establish a new oyster sanctuary in the area of the Hog Island fishing reef, and/or modify the boundary of the Heron Island sanctuary.

8.  To take no action at all, such that the right to the use of “power” (i.e. winders) for hand scraping would terminate under the sunset provisions of the regulations of the PRFC

For a Printable Version of the complete announcement

To view all oyster regulations 

NOTICE OF HEARING
September 10, 2009

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing will be held by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission on adoption of the foregoing proposed regulations or amendments to the regulations of the Commission on Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the John Thomas Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. The precise text of the proposed amendments is available at the Commission office or by calling (800) 266-3904 or (804) 224-7148 or visiting our website – http://www.prfc.us/commission/press_releases.html.



Oyster/Clam Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted July 28, 2009


COLONIAL BEACH, VA (July 28, 2009) — The Potomac River Oyster/Clam Advisory Committee, which is comprised of private citizens and industry representatives, will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2009 in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the PRFC building, Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Items on the agenda will include, but may not be limited to: a presentation of the history of the oyster fishery, a report of the 2008 fall oyster survey, a harvest report for the 2008-2009 PRFC oyster season and a final report on the EIS. Other items on the agenda are committee vacancies and the election of Chairman and Vice-chairman.

The Commission has asked the Advisory Committee to review the entire oyster fishery and all PRFC regulations in light of the just recently completed Oyster EIS finding that only native oysters will be used to restore the oyster population of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Possible future regulations will range from allowing hand scrapes throughout the entire river; modifying the cull law, the season, the times, and/or the open areas; adding additional sanctuary area(s): as well as a complete moratorium on all oyster harvest in the Potomac River.

Any recommendations developed by this committee will be forwarded to the Potomac River Fisheries Commission for consideration prior to implementation.

This meeting is open to the public and all interested persons are invited to attend. PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 or (800) 266-3904 no later than three work days prior to the meeting date and identify your needs



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted May 28, 2009


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman Bob Bowes announced today that the Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold a public hearing in conjunction with its next regular meeting on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Bowes invites all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.

The Public Hearing will address proposed regulation changes to the commercial crab pot depth restrictions, to clarify language of when peeler traps and crab pounds must be removed from the Potomac River, to increase the length of a fish pot to greater than 10 ft. and clarify the definition of a fish pot. The precise text of the proposed amendments is available at the Commission office or by calling (800) 266-3904 or (804) 224-7148 or visit our website – http://www.prfc.us/commission/press_releases.html.

Items on the agenda include but are not limited to: crab and oyster harvest reports, a crab advisory committee report, report on the blue crab winter dredge survey results, a report on the 2007 crab tagging study, a report of the winter striped bass fishery and a review of the annual fish compliance reports submitted to ASMFC. In addition, the Commission will adopt the 2009 crabbing season rules and regulations, the FY ’09 – ’10 budget, and hold a delinquent seafood catch report hearing.

PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 at least three work days prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.



Crab Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted May 5, 2009


COLONIAL BEACH, VA (May 5, 2009) — The Potomac River Crab Advisory Committee, which is comprised of private citizens and industry representatives, will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the PRFC Office Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia.

The Committee will review the 2008 crab harvest and receive a report on the Smithsonian crab tagging system.

There will be a topic of discussion on the outcome of the winter crab dredge survey in relation to the 34% harvest reductions that took place last year and what steps need to be addressed for the 2009 crab season.

These meetings are open to the public and all interested persons are invited to attend. PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 or (800) 266-3904 no later than three workdays prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.



PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS of the POTOMAC RIVER FISHERIES COMMISSION June 11, 2009
Posted May 04, 2009


Pursuant to the Potomac River Compact of 1958, as duly enacted into law by the General Assemblies of the States of Maryland and Virginia and duly ratified by the Congress of the United States of America, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission hereby proposes to amend and/or adopt regulations as follows, so as:

  1.  To amend Reg. VII, Sec. 5(e) Crab Pot Depth Restrictions to change: a) the closed season dates, b) the depth of water restriction, or c) to repeal this regulation.

2.  To amend Reg. VII, Sec. 1(d) Peeler Trap or Crab Pound to specify and clarify when peeler traps or crab pounds must be removed from the river.

3.  To amend Reg. I, Sec. 2(m)(3) Fish Pot to increase the length of a fish pot from 10ft. to 18 ft. and clarify the definition of a fish pot.

Printable Version of the complete announcement


NOTICE OF HEARING
June 11, 2009


Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing will be held by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission on adoption of the foregoing proposed regulations or amendments to the regulations of the Commission on Thursday, June 11, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. in the John Thomas Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. The precise text of the proposed amendments is available at the Commission office or by calling (800) 266-3904 or (804) 224-7148 or visiting our website – http://www.prfc.us/commission/press_releases.html



Finfish Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted January 29, 2009


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — The Potomac River Finfish Advisory Committee, which is comprised of private citizens and industry representatives, will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 12, 2009 in the John T. Parran Hearing Room at the PRFC Office, Colonial Beach, Virginia.

Items on the agenda will include, but may not be limited to: developing recommendations for the 2009 seasons, size and creel limits for the recreational and commercial fisheries. The committee will receive an update on the sport fishing federal registry. There will be topics of discussion on Reg. I, Sec. 2(m)(3) – Definitions – subsection (i) – Fish Pot so as to increase the length of a fish pot to greater than 10 ft., creating a reciprocal charter boat captains license, the transfer of a pound net license to a hook and line quota and labeling striped bass ID tags for specific gears.

The committee will also go over committee membership vacancies and elect a new Chairman and Vice-chairman

This meeting is open to the public and all interested persons are invited to attend. PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 or (800) 266-3904 no later than three workdays prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.



Crab Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted January 13, 2009


COLONIAL BEACH, VA (January 13, 2009) — The Potomac River Crab Advisory Committee, which is comprised of private citizens and industry representatives, will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 27, 2009, in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the PRFC Office Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia.

The Committee will review the 2008 crab harvest and have a discussion on possible changes to the crab regulation dealing with crab pot depth restrictions. The committee will also review the permit allowing two crab pot licenses on one boat.

There will be a topic of discussion on the effects of the winter crab dredge survey in relation to the 34% harvest reductions that took place last year and what steps need to be addressed for the 2009 crab season. The committee will also discuss the idea of closing the crab fishery on Sunday’s.

The committee will address from the last Crab Advisory Meeting, committee membership vacancies and the election of a new Chairman and Vice-chairman.

These meetings are open to the public and all interested persons are invited to attend. PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 or (800) 266-3904 no later than three workdays prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted November 21, 2008


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman J.T. Holland announced today the Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold its next regular meeting including an advertised public hearing on Friday, December 5, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Holland invites all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.

Items on the agenda for the public hearing include a plan to establish, and fund, a crab pot license buy-back program; removing the “white” sign from the definition of a peeler crab; changing the cull ring sizes and changing the dates for crab pot depth restrictions.

Items on the agenda for the regular meeting include but are not limited to: reports on the fall oyster harvest, annual oyster survey and a crab harvest report. The Commission will establish the recreational and commercial striped bass seasons, gear and size limits as well as most other finfish species. There will be an update of the ASMFC annual meeting and a delinquent seafood catch report hearing.

The Mattawoman Creek Art Center will have artwork displayed in the John T. Parran Hearing Room through December 10, 2008. Visitors are welcome during normal business hours.

PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 no later than three workdays prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Notice of Closure
Posted October 28, 2008


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — The Potomac River Fisheries Commission announced today that the Potomac River will be closed for the remainder of year to the recreational and charter boat harvest of summer flounder effective November 5, 2008.

This action was taken after receiving evidence that the summer flounder recreational harvest target for 2008 is projected to be landed on or before November 5, 2008. The action was taken subject to the provisions of Regulation I, Sec. 7(a)(3), and Regulation III, Sections 9, 10 and 11.



Proposed Amendments To The Regulations
Potomac River Fisheries Commission
Posted October 24, 2008


PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE REGULATIONS
of the
POTOMAC RIVER FISHERIES COMMISSION
December 5, 2008

Pursuant to the Potomac River Compact of 1958, as duly enacted into law by the General Assemblies of the States of Maryland and Virginia and duly ratified by the Congress of the United States of America, the Potomac River Fisheries Commission hereby proposes to amend and/or adopt regulations as follows, so as:

1. To adopt Reg. I, Sec. 1(e)(2) to establish a new crab pot fee of $1,000 when a crab pot license is re-issued to any other person who is not an immediate family member. Revenue from this fee will be used exclusively to buy-back and retire crab pot licenses.

2. To amend Reg. VII, Sec. 1(f) to eliminate the harvest of “white” sign peelers by removing the word “white” from the definition of a peeler crab.

3. To amend Reg. VII, Sec. 6(b) to increase the hard crab pot cull ring size from one of at least 2-3/16 inches and one of at least 2-5/16 inches to at least two 2-3/8 inches.

4. To amend Reg. VII, Sec. 5(e) to change the crab pot depth restrictions from September 1st through November 30th to June 15th through September 15th.

NOTICE OF HEARING
December 5, 2008

Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing will be held by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission on adoption of the foregoing proposed regulations or amendments to the regulations of the Commission on Friday, December 5, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the John Thomas Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. The precise text of the proposed amendments is available at the Commission office or by calling (800) 266-3904 or (804) 224-7148 or visit our website – http://www.prfc.us/commission/press_releases.html.



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted August 28, 2008


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman J. T. Holland announced today that the Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold its next regular meeting on Thursday, September 11, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Holland invites all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.

Items on the agenda include but are not limited to: a crab harvest report; reports from the Oyster/Clam Advisory Committee and the Crab Advisory Committee, the adoption of the 2008-2009 oyster season dates, times and limits, a presentation of the American Eel YOY survey and a summary of the August ASMFC meeting.

Other items on the agenda also include: adopting the 2008-2009 gill net season, restrictions and limits, a review of the seafood catch report enforcement policy and a delinquent seafood catch report hearing.

Mr. Duane Raver, a renowned wildlife artist from Garner, North Carolina will have artwork displayed in the John T. Parran Hearing Room through September 11, 2008. Visitors are welcomed during normal business hours.

PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 at least three work days prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted May 1, 2008


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman JT Holland announced today that the Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold a public hearing in conjunction with its next regular meeting on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Holland invites all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.

The Public Hearing will address proposed regulation changes to the commercial and recreational crab seasons, sizes, time limits, pot limits, areas and other crab regulations. The precise text of the proposed amendments is available at the Commission office or by calling (800) 266-3904 or (804) 224-7148 or visit our website – http://www.prfc.us/commission/press_releases.html.

Items on the agenda include but are not limited to: crab and oyster harvest reports, a review of the winter striped bass fishery and a review of the annual fish compliance reports submitted to ASMFC. In addition, the Commission will adopt the FY ’08 – ’09 budget, and hold a delinquent seafood catch report hearing.

PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 at least three work days prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Notice of Hearing
Posted April 10, 2008


Notice is hereby given to all interested persons that a public hearing will be held by the Potomac River Fisheries Commission on adoption of the foregoing proposed regulations or amendments to the regulations of the Commission on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. in the John Thomas Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. The precise text of the proposed amendments is available at the Commission office or by calling (800) 266-3904 or (804) 224-7148.

View proposed regulations or amendments 



Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted February 1, 2008


COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman William Rice announced today the Potomac River Fisheries Commission would hold its regular meeting on Friday, February 15, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the John T. Parran Hearing Room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Rice expressed his desire to invite all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.

The Commission will set the commercial quota and recreational limits for summer flounder; and establish the recreational size and creel limits and the commercial by-catch limits for weakfish for 2008. The Commission will also decide what regulations will be considered for an upcoming public hearing.

Other items on the agenda include but are not limited to: reviewing the crab, fish and oyster harvest reports, an report from the Crab Advisory Committee and an update from the ASMFC winter meeting. The Commission will also elect their Chairman, Vice-chairman and Secretary for 2008.

PRFC does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities; therefore, if you are in need of reasonable accommodations due to a disability, please call (804) 224-7148 no later than three workdays prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.
 

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