The DNREC Division of Fish and wildlife will conduct a public hearing on proposed revisions to the Tidal Finfish Regulations for Cobia (Docket #2021-R-F-0007) and Tilefish (Docket #2021-R-F-0008). Public comment period closed.

The hearing will take place in two stages, first addressing proposed revisions to 7 DE Admin. Code 3550 “Cobia” and then proposed revisions to 7 DE Admin. Code 3542 “Tilefish.”

The objectives of revising 7 DE Admin. Code 3550 are to implement changes to the minimum size, vessel limit and season, depending on the option chosen, required for Delaware to maintain compliance with the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Addendum I to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia.

The objectives of revising 7 DE Admin. Code 3542 are to implement changes to the recreational and commercial daily possession limits and establish a closed recreational season for Blueline Tilefish. These changes will make the Tilefish regulation in Delaware state waters identical to the federal waters regulation.

The proposed amendments may be inspected online starting July 1, 2021 at regulations.delaware.gov/services/current_issue.shtml or in-person, by appointment only, by contacting John H. Clark, by phone at (302) 739-9914 or by email at John.Clark@delaware.gov.

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, Aug. 6, 2021. Comments 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 address below.

Public Hearing Officer

Theresa Newman
DNREC Office of the Secretary
89 Kings Highway
Dover, DE 19901

Related Documents

DNREC Public Notices: Tilefish and Cobia

Cobia (2021-R-F-0007)

Transcript, Hearing Officer’s Report and Secretary’s Order

Public Hearing Transcript

Hearing Officer’s Report

Secretary’s Order No: 2021-F-0022 — Approving Final Amendments to 7 DE Admin. Code 3550 – Cobia (Effective Date: Sept. 11, 2021)

DNREC Exhibits

Exhibit 1: Draft meeting minutes from the April 21, 2021 meeting of the Advisory Council on Tidal Finfisheries, which include an update to the Council on the regulatory action proposed by the Division to maintain Delaware’s compliance with Addendum I to the Atlantic Migratory Group Cobia FMP.

Exhibit 2: A copy of approved Start Action Notice #2021-02 pertaining to the proposed amendments and a memo from Secretary Garvin notifying the legislative committees of the proposed action.

Exhibit 3: A copy of the Regulatory Flexibility Analysis/Regulatory Impact Statement, corresponding to the proposed action and as published in the July 1, 2021 Delaware Register of Regulations.

Exhibit 4: A copy of Register Notice SAN #2021-02 and the proposed amendment to 7 DE Admin Code 3550 Cobia, as published in the July 1, 2020 Delaware Register of Regulations.

Exhibit 5: Evidence for the publication of the legal notice regarding the proposed amendments to 7 DE Admin Code 3550 Cobia in the Delaware State News and Wilmington News Journal on June 27, 2021.

Exhibit 6: Notice of the public hearing as it appeared on Delaware’s Statewide Calendar and posted July 8, 2021.

Exhibit 7: A copy of the legal notice for the public hearing as posted on DNREC’s public notices website starting on June 27, 2021.

Exhibit 8: Additional noticing sent to the Fisheries List Serve, certain Blackboard Connect subscribers, and posted on the Division’s FB page regarding tonight’s hearing on the proposed amendment to 7 DE Admin Code 3550 Cobia.

Exhibit 9: A copy of the legal notice for the public hearing as posted on the bulletin board in the DNREC Building lobby on July 8, 2021.

Exhibit 10: A copy of a presentation on proposed amendments to 7 DE Admin Code 3550 Cobia

Exhibit 11: A copy of comments received prior to hearing

Comments

Randy Frech (8/5/21)

Tilefish (2021-R-F-0008)

Transcript, Hearing Officer’s Report and Secretary’s Order

Public Hearing Transcript

Hearing Officer’s Report

Secretary’s Order No: 2021-F-0021 — Approving Final Amendments to 7 DE Admin. Code 3542 – Tilefish (Effective Date: Sept. 11, 2021)

DNREC Exhibits

Exhibit 1: Meeting minutes from the September 23, 2020 meeting of the Advisory Council on Tidal Finfisheries, which include the Council’s motion to recommend Delaware adopt federal water regulations for Tilefish.

Exhibit 2: A copy of approved SAN #2021-03 pertaining to the proposed amendments and a memo from Secretary Garvin notifying the legislative committees of the proposed action.

Exhibit 3: A copy of the Regulatory Flexibility Analysis/Regulatory Impact Statement, corresponding to the proposed action and as published in the July 1, 2021 Delaware Register of Regulations.

Exhibit 4: A copy of Register Notice SAN #2021-03 and the proposed amendment to 7 DE Admin Code 3542 Tilefish, as published in the July 1, 2021 Delaware Register of Regulations.

Exhibit 5: Evidence for the publication of the legal notice regarding the proposed amendments to 7 DE Admin Code 3542 Tilefish in the Delaware State News and Wilmington News Journal on June 27, 2021.

Exhibit 6: Notice of the public hearing as it appeared on Delaware’s Statewide Calendar and posted July 8, 2021.

Exhibit 7: A copy of the legal notice for the public hearing as posted on DNREC’s public notices website starting on June 27, 2021.

Exhibit 8: Additional noticing sent to the Fisheries List Serve, certain Blackboard Connect subscribers, and posted on the Division’s FB page regarding tonight’s hearing on the proposed amendment to 7 DE Admin Code 3542 Tilefish.

Exhibit 9: A copy of the legal notice for the public hearing as posted on the bulletin board in the DNREC Building lobby on July 8, 2021.

Exhibit 10: A copy of a presentation on proposed amendments to 7 DE Admin Code 3542 Tilefish.