The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish & Wildlife will conduct a virtual public hearing on Thursday, March 23, 2023, beginning at 6:00 p.m. to consider comments from the public on the proposed revisions to DE Admin. Code 3200 Horseshoe Crabs (Docket # 2023-R-F-0001).

The objectives of revising 7 DE Admin. Code 3200 Horseshoe Crabs are to comply with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s recently approved Addendum VIII to the Horseshoe Crab Fishery Management Plan to include updating the annual harvest limit setting process and, in addition, proposing to revise daily possession limits, clarify the definition of legal harvest methods, define the circumstances that will require a horseshoe crab dredge lottery, and modify the dredge lottery process.

The proposed amendments may be inspected online starting March 1, 2023 at regulations.delaware.gov/services/current_issue.shtml or in-person, by appointment only, by contacting John Clark, by phone at (302) 739-9914 or by email at John.Clark@delaware.gov. The web link to the virtual meeting is found on the DNREC Public Hearings site at de.gov/dnrechearings. If prompted, use Meeting ID 954 0188 4469 and Passcode 639214. To access the audio-only portion of the virtual hearing, dial 1-646-931-3860 and enter the Meeting ID and Passcode noted above. Closed captioning is available by request if made at least 7 days before the event.

Those wishing to offer verbal comments during DNREC virtual public hearings must pre-register no later than noon on the date of the virtual hearing at de.gov/dnreccomments or by telephone at 302-739-9295.

The Department will accept public comment through the close of business on Friday, April 7, 2023. Comments pertaining to the above matter will be accepted in written form via email to DNRECHearingComments@delaware.gov, using the online form at de.gov/dnreccomments, or by U.S. mail to the following address:

Theresa Smith, Hearing Officer
DNREC — Office of the Secretary
89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901

Related Topics:  fish and wildlife, fisheries, horseshoe crabs, permitting and regulation, public comments, public hearing, public notice