MSC pre-assessment made available

Participants confirmed

Updated 2024 Workplan

Workplan made public

The Commonwealth of Virginia has issued Executive Directive 10/2024 which establishes a Blue Ribbon Oyster Panel (BROP) led by the VMRC to address present challenges and future hazards inherent in managing the oyster resource with he aim of safeguarding long-term sustainability and enhancement. 

The VMRC Marine Patrol's oyster task force, has been addressing fishery violations, including recent license revocations for illegal harvesting on James River oyster beds. 

The FIP three-year evaluation report has been made available. 

A draft Decision-Making Process has been made available which provides a clear, agreed statement of objectives to guide decision-making and includes a statement about the precautionary approach. 

VMRC conducted a review of the public and private oyster harvest and population numbers; staff advised that both levels would reach a 36-year high which includes several acres of protected sanctuary that were open to harvest during the 1987/88 season (and are now off limits to oystermen).

The VMRC approved the closure of oyster harvesting Rappahannock Area 4 on February 10th, 2023 and subsequently extended the public harvest season for oyster harvesting in the James River Hand Scrape Areas 1, 2 and 3 and in the Rappahannock Area 2 until February 24, 2023.

The SMAC met together in early 2023 to discuss SMD updates and the oyster harvest season extension.

The FIP is supporting the establishment of a shellfish sustainability advisory committee (SAC); the committee formation is currently in development.

Research project conducted on the fishing rights to eastern oysters for indigenous Native Virginians; the research concluded that no explicit or implicit legal rights specific to oyster fishing exist for people dependent on fishing for food or livelihood.

VIMS has produced a report demonstrating that extensive/ intensive aquaculture is able to coexist with protected submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) areas that overlap with areas leased for oyster production. 

The FIP has undergone a review of existing oyster license holders; the review demonstrated the need to restructure the license transfer eligibility requirements to promote an organic increase in the fishery as opposed to a new license. 

The Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) has prepared a summary of oyster genetics of wild and hatchery populations suggests the wild oyster population in Chesapeake Bay is large enough to buffer against any impacts from reproduction with hatchery produced oysters. Final report in preparation.

New position advertised for the stand-alone shellfish division set by by the Virginia Seafood Council and Virginia Marine Resources Commission for alignment on monitoring of the fishery 

The VMRC has adopted the Commonwealth’s oyster management plan, emphasizing real-time mandatory reporting to improve fishery management. The James River management plan now requires daily online reporting, with non-compliance potentially leading to license revocation.

Increase to PI 3.2.4; The FIP has conducted occasional internal reviews of the management system. 

The VMRC has implemented the Shellfish Sustainability Advisory Subcommittee (SAS- formerly SAC) under the SMAC division. The subcommittee will focus on building on sustainability improvements started with the FIP and will provide a mechanism for long-term consideration of sustainability issues as they arise.

FIP management division has policies in place to minimize impact on the seabed. 

VMRC reorganized by implementing the Shellfish Management Division (SMD), with the FIP participants using the pre-assessment to demonstrate the need for this governance action -  SMD reached full implementation (https://mrc.virginia.gov/mrcoverview.shtm) in December 2021.