Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Marine Resources Commission
 
Board
Marine Resources Commission
 
chapter
Pertaining to River Herring [4 VAC 20 ‑ 1260]
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9/12/24  4:23 pm
Commenter: Dan Honsberger

I support this petition
 
  • Management of hickory shad should be consistent across Virginia. The DWR 10 per day hickory shad limit for Virginia rivers outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed is a reasonable model for beginning management of the Chesapeake Bay and tributary hickory shad spawning runs.
  • Conserving hickory shad will help protect against overfishing a species with an unknown population and undetermined abundance needed for a self-sustaining stock.
  • Unrestricted takes during hickory shad spawning runs reduces the potential for successful spawns.
  • Overfishing hickory shad risks depletion of the stock and jeopardizes the continued availability of a recreational fishery.
  • Unrecognized bycatch of American shad during unrestricted bulk takes of hickory shad undermines restoration efforts for this species.
  • A daily creel limit facilitates adjustment of allowed takes as conditions change.
  • Creel limits provide a practical measure for field inspection of hickory shad takes.
  • Hickory shad availability as a forage species for striped bass is diminished by unrestricted takes.
CommentID: 227802