The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), Division of Fish and Wildlife will conduct a virtual public hearing on Thursday, July 22, 2021 beginning at 6:00 p.m. to consider comments from the public on the proposed revisions to 7 DE Admin. Code 3550 “Cobia.”

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 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. 

A virtual public hearing will be held on Thursday, July 22, 2021, beginning at 6 p.m. The web link to the virtual meeting is found on the DNREC Public Hearings site at de.gov/dnrechearings. If prompted for a password, please use: Fish. To access the audio-only portion of the virtual hearing, dial 1-408-418-9388 and enter event code 173 319 0455. 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, August 6, 2021. 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:  cobia, fish and wildlife, public comments, public hearing, public notice, regulations, tidal finfish