Virginia Marine Resource Commission

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Welcome: Our website is designed to provide easy access to regulatory and management information related to Virginia marine resources, as well as, descriptions of the mission, purpose and activities of the Commission.

Our Mission: The Marine Resources Commission serves as stewards of Virginia's marine and aquatic resources, and protectors of its tidal waters and homelands, for present and future generations.

Did You Know? The Marine Resources Commission is a State Agency with approximately 150 Employees. We are headquartered in Newport News, Virginia and have been established since 1875.

We are comprised of four divisions: Marine Police, Fisheries Management, Habitat Management, and Administration and Finance. Click here to learn more

What's New

December 16, 2008: The Commission unanimously adopted a fishing guide license system that will open up Maryland waters to Virginia charter boats for the first time in more than a decade, solving a longstanding complaint of many charter boat captains. A two-tiered guide license system was approved, one license open to all charter boats plying Virginia's saltwaters and the other limited in number but to be honored by Maryland as part of a reciprocal agreement that Maryland officials have tentatively accepted. The new licenses are to go on sale next week. <More Guides License Information> <MD/VA Reciprocity Agreement Amendment> <More Commission Results>

November 25, 2008: The Commission continued its ongoing effort to rebuild the blue crab fishery by unanimously agreeing to put 867 dormant crab licenses on a waiting list, banning them from reactivation until the crab population rebounds and remains at acceptable levels for three consecutive years. These licenses have not been used since at least 2003. An appeal provision was approved for those with specific, provable, hardships. <More>

November 19, 2008: The Commission has been honored with two Governor’s Awards for procurements to Small, Women and Minority owned businesses in fiscal year 2008 Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has made so-called SWaM expenditure goals -- not mandates -- a priority of his administration. One of the awards was the Highest SWaM Expenditures Achieved Award, given for achieving a 72 percent SWaM procurement expenditure rate. The other was the SWaM Innovator Award, given for the agency's creative efforts in signing up new SWaM businesses to participate.

November 19, 2008: Commissioner Steven G. Bowman has reappointed three members of the Recreational Fishing Advisory Board. They are George M. Hudgins, Jr., of Williamsburg, an avid angler who is president of Carter's Cove, Inc. and Hudgins Building and Development; Charles Randolph, of Newport News, who has been fishing, boating and diving since 1970 and is the former president of the Peninsula Saltwater Sport Fishing Association; and Carlisle R. Bannister, of Richmond, a charter boat captain who enjoys fishing for trophy Striped Bass. Their three-year terms will expire on Jan. 1, 2012. “I’m very happy to reappoint these dedicated members of our recreational fishing advisory board,” said Commissioner Bowman. “They work hard on behalf of all the state’s recreational anglers and their service is of great value to the Commission. I am personally grateful for their efforts.”

October 28, 2008: The Commission declined to reopen the female crab season, despite intense public pressure from commercial watermen. Regulations enacted this spring closed the season on Monday, five weeks early, in order to rebuild a crab population at scientifically proven dangerously low levels. <More>

October 23, 2008: Virginia Marine Resources Commission member Richard B. Robins, Jr. of Suffolk has been elected chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, an important position overseeing fishery management in federal waters off Virginia’s coast. <More>

October 3, 2008: The Virginia Marine Resources Commission's elaborate display at the State Fair of Virginia has won a coveted Director's Choice Award again. <More>

October 3, 2008: Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today formally announced the appointment of life-long angler William E. “Bill” Laine Jr. of Smithfield to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, as well as the reappointment of Kyle Schick. Mr. Laine served as Circuit Court Clerk in Isle of Wight County for 34 years, from 1973 to 2007, and has sat on VMRC’s Finfish Management Advisory Board for the past five years. “I’m very happy to welcome Bill Laine to this important position. He will make a terrific addition to the team as we move ahead with the challenges that face our marine resources in the future,’’ said VMRC Commissioner Steven G. Bowman. Mr. Laine has fished regularly for more than 50 years, both in fresh and saltwater, mostly in the lower end of the Chesapeake Bay for the past two decades. Mr. Laine replaces Wayne McLeskey of Virginia Beach, who served eight years on the VMRC board.

Gov. Kaine today also announced the reappointment of Kyle Schick of Colonial Beach, who is president of the Colonial Beach Yacht Center, to another four-year term on the VMRC board. “Kyle is a tremendous asset to the board and his reappointment is most welcome,’’ said Bowman. “I wish to thank Mr. McLeskey for his many years of dedicated service. We wish him the best. He will be missed.”

September 23, 2008: Oyster season in most of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries will open Oct. 1, under a plan approved by the Commission today. <More>

September 3, 2008: Jere Humphrey of Norfolk, Virginia has established a new state record for snowy grouper with a 68-pound fish caught August 17, 2008 <More>

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