Skip to main content

Comments sought on recreational boating, freshwater fishing, and nongame and/or endangered species

Top left: northeastern beach tiger beetle; top right: man steering boat; bottom: man fishing from a small boat

If you have ideas about freshwater fishing, recreational boating, and nongame and endangered species regulations, now is the time to let the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) know. They have recently launched their biennial process for regulatory changes going into effect January 1, 2025.

The first step, ending February 25, is the public issues scoping period. DWR wants to know which species and boating issues require a regulation change. In addition, the agency wants to know details.

Over the next year, DWR will hear from the public and experts and look at the science and the environment to make their final decisions about regulations effective January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2026.



Freshwater fishing details you will be asked to provide

  • Regulation change desired

  • Description of your specific recommendation change (Example: I would like to see a 10-inch minimum size on rock bass.)

  • The primary concern or issue you want your recommendation to correct (Example: There are not enough large rock bass available to catch.)

  • Potential implications of this reg change (Regulation changes have biological, sociological, administrative, and economic implications. The Department must assess these impacts in order to make the best possible decision about regulation changes.)

Recreational boating details you will be asked to provide

  • Regulation change desired

  • Description of your specific recommendation change

  • The primary concern or issue you want your recommendation to correct

  • Potential implications of this reg change (Regulation changes have biological, sociological, administrative, and economic implications. The Department must assess these impacts in order to make the best possible decision about regulation changes.)

  • Personal experience on the water, including safety

Nongame and endangered species details you will be asked to provide

  • Regulation change desired

  • The suite of nongame and/or endangered species your regulation recommendation affects (reptiles, amphibians, birds, etc.)

  • The primary concern or issue you want your recommendation to correct (Example: There are not enough large rock bass available to catch.)

  • Potential implications of this reg change (Regulation changes have biological, sociological, administrative, and economic implications. The Department must assess these impacts in order to make the best possible decision about regulation changes.)

The timeline

  • January 11–February 25, 2024: Public issues scoping period (comment portal form on website), staff makes contact with constituent groups or individuals, assess concerns or ideas for changes.
  • February–March 2024: Aquatic committees meet to discuss scoping comments submitted.
  • March 20, 2024: DWR Wildlife and Boat Committee meeting; Staff presents preliminary review of issues identified to Committee members. (Public comment opportunity)
  • March 21, 2024: DWR Board meeting; Staff presents preliminary review of issues identified to Board members. (Public comment opportunity)
  • April – May 2024: Aquatic staff core group meets to finalize staff recommendations.
  • May 22, 2024: DWR Wildlife and Boat Committee meeting; Staff recommendations presented to Committee members, Committee decides which to send to Board for approval. (Public comment opportunity)
  • May 23, 2024: DWR Board meeting; Staff recommendations presented to Board members, Board decides which proposals to move forward to public comment. (Public comment opportunity)
  • June 10 – July 25, 2024: 45-day public comment period on Board proposals (advertised on website, newspapers, social media, and email list for those who are signed up).
  • August 21, 2024: DWR Wildlife and Boat Commitee meeting; Staff presents final recommendations to Committee members, Committee decides which to send to Board for approval. (Public comment opportunity)
  • August 22, 2024: DWR Board meeting; Staff presents final recommendations to Board members for final approval. (Public comment opportunity)
  • January 1, 2025: Regulations go into effect.



Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Community meals and food events (free and paid)

Free food Free Food Thanksgiving Pop-up Mobile Pantry, Saturday, November 15, 9:00 - 11:00 am, Kinsale : Hundreds of Blessing Bags filled with non-perishable items, desserts, fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, frozen turkey. First come, first served until all items are gone. Location: New Jerusalem Baptist Church, 3695 Kings Mill Rd, Kinsale. Sponsored by Sowers Of Hope and Jospeh’s House. Thanksgiving Giveaway Free Food Drive Through, Sunday, November 16, 8:00 - 10:00 am, Warsaw : Hundreds of blessing bags until gone. Turkeys, hams, perishable, non-perishable items, and much more. Location: Rappahannock High School (parking lot), 6914 Richmond Rd, Warsaw. Sponsored by Sowers Of Hope, Jospeh’s House. MCVRS Thanksgiving Dinner, Wednesday, November 26, pickup Noon - 3:00 pm : Residents of Northumberland County aged 75 and older and living in the middle part of the county may get a free traditional Thanksgiving meal. Registration by November 21 is required. Call (804) 456-81...
Read more

Quilting in red, white, and blue: Celebrating Our Independence Quilt Show, July 1-7

Historic Christ Church & Museum and Sewlovelee are featuring the art of NNK quilters July 1-7 at the Celebrating Our Independence Quilt Show . This joint celebration combines art and history. Quilters are asked to exhibit their red, white, and blue quilts which tell the stories of our independence from Britain, our history since the American Revolution, and the future of the United States. The quilts will also serve as the backdrop of Christ Church's annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. The reading is a patriotic celebration and is in partnership with the Cobbs Hall Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Richard Henry Lee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. There is no fee to enter a quilt into the show. Learn more about entering the show . There is no fee to see the quilt exhibit. Edit, 1:00 pm: I cannot resist a tie-in, so here it is. Consider creating a quilt that is inspired by, speaks to, or represents the hist...
Read more

The blue crab population has declined 25% according to latest dredge survey results

The Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC) has announced the 25% decline of the blue crab population between 2024 and 2025. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) calls the results a “distressing low.” Many in the Bay watershed would likely agree with CBF’s reaction. Not two months ago, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation released the results of the IPSOS poll of 2,000 people living across the Chesapeake Bay watershed―DC, MD, PA, and VA―which found that the Bay animal most in need of protection was the blue crab (70%). Other top animals identified were bald eagle (68%), oyster (49%), and striped bass (36%). Read the full press release, “Virginia’s Adaptive Management Addresses 2025 Blue Crab Population Fluctuations,” here: HAMPTON, VA - The 2025 Bay-wide Winter Dredge Survey results indicate the Chesapeake Bay’s blue crab population has declined from an estimated 317 million crabs in 2024 to 238 million crabs. Virginia’s blue crab managers are not surprised by these findings, as c...
Read more