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Comment Period for Proposed DWR Recreational Fishing, Non-Game Wildlife, and Boating Regulations Opens August 12, 2024
Richmond, VA — The Board of the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has created its regulatory proposals for managing recreational fishing, non-game wildlife, and boating. Any regulations adopted by the Board will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
Specific recreational fishing regulations focus on changing size and bag limits on black bass in Philpott Reservoir and Quantico Marine Base, striped bass in the Chowan River drainage, muskellunge, northern pike, and chain pickerel statewide, and bullhead. Clarifying regulations are proposed for striped bass in Crane Lake as well as for rock and Roanoke bass in the Blackwater River of the Chowan River drainage basin. Other changes are proposed to the extent of artificial only trout waters on Big Tumbling Creek within the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area and delayed harvest trout waters in Chestnut Creek, Carroll County.
Specific nongame regulation changes include updating the reference date for the List of Native and Naturalized Fauna of Virginia to 2024 and to update the regulation that references the Federal Endangered and Threatened Species List to indicate the Board’s adoption of the most recent list, published in the Federal Register on April 1, 2024. In addition, a change has been made to the definition of “domestic animal” to include cornsnake morphs which are propagated in the pet trade and easily distinguishable from our native red cornsnakes. The adoption of these changes by the Board is necessary to ensure regulatory certainty about the status of non-game species in Virginia.
The specific regulations related to boating include amendments to several sections in the boating regulations to align with the Code of Federal Regulation. In addition, there is an amendment to the motorboat numbering section of the regulation to provide specific numbering requirements for vessels that are used as a rental, livery, or leased. Finally, the regulation regarding riding on decks and gunwales is being amended to clarify the intent.
These regulations can be viewed at https://dgifwebtest.gooutdoorsvirginia.com/regulations
This process offers the opportunity for citizens to comment on regulatory proposals directly to DWR. Comments can be submitted from Aug. 12 to Sept. 10. They will be reviewed by DWR staff, summarized, and presented to DWR’s Wildlife and Boat Committee and full Board during the October 2024 meetings. These presentations will occur at DWR’s headquarters at 7870 Villa Park Drive, Henrico, Virginia.
Comments can be submitted online at: https://dgifwebtest.gooutdoorsvirginia.com/regulations
Or via mail at:
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
Attn: Fisheries Division – Board Proposals
P.O. Box 90778
Henrico, VA 23228-0778