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Press Room
Archived
Press Releases 2003 |
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PRFC Announces Dredging Season
Posted December 01, 2003
COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman William L. Rice announced today the
Potomac River Fisheries Commission has received proclamations from
Maryland and Virginia validating the Commission's authority to regulate
oyster dredging.
Based on the Commission's actions held at its November 6, 2003 meeting,
the dredge season will open December 26, 2003 and run through March 31,
2004. The area open for dredging is downstream of a line from Neal Sound
Entrance Light #2 in Charles County, Maryland to the mouth of Popes
Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia, excluding Heron Island and Jones
Shore oyster bars. Licenses are on sale at the PRFC office.
Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted October 23, 2003
COLONIAL BEACH, VA — Chairman William L. Rice announced today the
Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold its next regular meeting,
including an advertised public hearing, on Thursday, November 6, 2003 at
1:00 p.m. in the hearing room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission
Building, 222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. Mr. Rice invites
all interested persons to attend this open public meeting.
A public hearing will be held on several proposed regulation changes
regarding oyster power dredging in the Potomac River. Items being
considered include: a) increase the hand scrape boat license fee from
$150 to $300; b) increase the hand scrape individual license fee from
$125 to $250; c) modify the definition of a dredge by striking the words
“ power or sail” and “the use of which on the Potomac River is
prohibited by the Potomac River Compact of 1958.”; d) modify the
definition of a hand scrape so as to allow it to be pulled with a winch,
winder, spool or other hoisting gear; e) prohibit hand tongs or power
assisted hand tongs aboard hand scrape boats and prohibit dredges or
hand scrapes aboard hand tong boats; f) extend the hand scrape line
upriver to the 301 Bridge, exempting Heron Island oyster bar; g)
striking the words “scoop, power and/or sail” and “or any power or hand
operated winch, spool, winder, or other tackle used or usable in power
and/or sail dredging and/or patent tonging” from the regulation dealing
with unlawful equipment; h) increase the oyster inspection tax from
$0.75 to $1.00; i) replace the words “tongers or hand scrapers” with the
word “harvesters”; j) remove the prohibition on oysters being placed or
deposited in any basket; k) add a US Standard Bushel Basket as a measure
of oysters; and l) include the inspection of oysters contained in bushel
baskets.
Other items on the agenda include but are not limited to: a report on
the fall oyster harvest and the annual oyster bar survey; a report on
the crab harvest and recommendations from the PRFC’s Crab Advisory
Committee on achieving the commitment between Virginia, Maryland and the
PRFC to maintain a 15% harvest reduction plan for 2004; establish the
2004 commercial, recreational and charter boat fisheries season dates,
size limits, catch limits and other restrictions for striped bass and
most other species.
Other items on the agenda also include: seeking nominations to fill
vacancies on the crab, shellfish and finfish advisory committees and an
update from the building committee.
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 work days
prior to the meeting date and identify your needs.
Crab Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted October 7, 2003
COLONIAL BEACH, VA (October 7, 2003) — The Potomac River Crab Advisory
Committee, which is comprised of private citizens and industry
representatives, will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 21, 2003 at
the PRFC Office in Colonial Beach, Virginia.
Items on the agenda will include, but may not be limited to, a review of
the 2003 crab harvest data and how to achieve the commitment between
Maryland, Virginia and the PRFC to maintain a 15% reduction in crabbing
effort for the 2004 season. Any proposals developed by this committee
will be forwarded to the Potomac River Fisheries Commission for
consideration prior to implementation.
The committee will elect the Chairman and Vice-chairman as well as seek
nominations to fill membership vacancies.
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 September 16, 2003
COLONIAL BEACH, VA — The Potomac River Fisheries Commission postpones
its September 18, 2003 meeting due to impending severe weather. The
meeting has been rescheduled for Friday, September 26, 2003 at 1:00 p.m.
in the hearing room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building,
222 Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. The agenda remains
unchanged.
Please visit our website
www.prfc.us for updated information. You may call our
office (804) 224-7148 if you have questions.
Potomac River Fisheries Commission Meeting
Posted September 4, 2003
COLONIAL BEACH, VA — The Potomac River Fisheries Commission will hold
its next regular meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. in
the hearing room of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission Building, 222
Taylor Street, Colonial Beach, Virginia. All interested persons are
invited to attend this open public meeting.
Items on the agenda include, but are not limited to, a crab harvest
report and the oyster/clam advisory committee report, which will include
the committee’s recommendation for the upcoming 2003-2004 oyster season
as well as recommendations to the Commission regulating proposed oyster
power dredging in the Potomac River.
Other items on the agenda also include: an update from the building
committee, a review of the pre-payable fine schedule and a hearing for
persons failing to submit the required seafood harvest reports.
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.
Oyster/Clam Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted July 24, 2003
COLONIAL BEACH, VA (July 24, 2003) — 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 7, 2003 in
the PRFC Office Hearing Room in Colonial Beach, Virginia.
Items on the agenda will include, but may not be limited to: developing
a recommendation for the 2003-04 oyster season dates and times. There
will also be a discussion on regulating oyster power dredging 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 June 6, 2003
LEONARDTOWN, MD (June 6, 2003) — Vice-chairman Kenneth W. Williams, Sr.,
announced today that the Potomac River Fisheries Commission would hold
its next regular meeting on Friday, June 20, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. in
Hearing Room #14 on the first floor of the Governmental Center, 23115
Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, Maryland.
Items on the agenda include but are not limited to: a review of the crab
and oyster harvest reports, an update on the 2003 oyster repletion
program, consideration of a proposal to close Piney Point Hollow to
clamming, a review of the ASMFC annual reports, adoption of the 2003-04
budget, and an update by the building committee.
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 workdays prior to
the meeting date and identify your needs.
Oyster/Clam Advisory Committee Meeting
Posted May 8, 2003
COLONIAL BEACH, VA (May 8, 2003) — The Potomac River Oyster/Clam
Advisory Committee, which is comprised of private citizens and industry
representatives, will meet at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2003 in the
PRFC Office Hearing Room in Colonial Beach, Virginia.
The advisory committee will review the latest oyster harvest data and
receive updates on the 2003 oyster repletion program and legislation
authorizing the PRFC to regulate oyster dredging.
A presentation will be given on the proposed submerged aquatic
vegetation (SAV) planting in the Piney Point Hollow area of 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 five workdays prior to the meeting date and identify your
needs.
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