Little Wicomico River remains closed to shellfish harvesting.
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Salmonella Outbreak in Little Wicomico River
Learn More: Salmonella Outbreak in Little Wicomico River (external site)
Agency News
UPDATE: Please see attached notice for a change to Virginia’s Directed Offshore Summer Flounder Fishery trip limits.
Virginia's Outdoor Recreation Survey (external site) is live, now through November 18.
For information regarding the Salmonella Outbreak in Little Wicomico River, see VDH's News Update (external site).
Results of the October VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here
An emergency shellfish closure of the Little Wicomico River is established effective October 9, 2026. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to take shellfish from this area for any purpose except by permit granted by the Marine Resources Commission. Oysters harvested in the Little Wicomico River starting on September 18, 2026, through October 8, 2026, by Little Wicomico Oyster Company have been recalled.
ATTENTION COMMERCIAL SPECKLED TROUT BUYERS The 2026/27 directed commercial speckled trout season opened on Tuesday September 1, 2026. Please call the Commission’s Interactive Voice Recording System (800-937-9247, Option 1 then Option 5) and report any purchases of speckled trout, in pounds, on a daily basis, beginning September 1, 2026.
There will be a public hearing held at the VMRC Main Office on Monday, September 28, 2026 from 6:00 PM-8:00 PM to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden (external site). The Draft Addendum considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season.
VMRC and Town of Tangier Partner to Address Marine Obstructions Around Tangier Island
Results of the September VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here
There will be a public hearing held on Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Northumberland High School, 201 Academic Lane, Heathsville, VA, from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM to gather public input on Draft Addendum II to Amendment 3 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Menhaden (external site). The Draft Addendum considers options to reduce the Chesapeake Bay Reduction Fishery Cap (Bay Cap) by up to 50% and distribute the cap more evenly throughout the fishing season.
On Thursday , October 1, 2026, Virginia will open the offshore directed summer flounder fishery. Please see the attached notice for dates and landing limits.
On August 20, 2026, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced a commercial federal waters closure for the Atlantic Migratory Group Spanish Mackerel Northern Zone, to take effect at 12:01 am on Tuesday August 25, 2026. Beginning 12:01 August 25, 2026, it shall be unlawful for any person to possess or land in Virginia any amount of Spanish mackerel in excess of 500 pounds from any vessel in any one day.
Results of the August VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here
Effective 12 noon, Saturday, August 8th, 2026, the Virginia horseshoe crab dredge harvest commercial fishery will close. Based upon landing reports from Virginia seafood buyers and horseshoe crab harvesters, it is projected that Virginia will have harvested 100% of the horseshoe crab dredge category quota allocated to be harvested by Virginia Horseshoe Crab Class A and Class B Dredge Category Permittees by the above date and time.
Results of the July VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here
Results of the June VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here
ASMFC and MAFMC are seeking participants for a stakeholder workshop on recreational sector separation options for the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, and bluefish fisheries.
June 5-7, 2026 have been declared Free Fishing Days (Saltwater).
Results of the May VMRC Commission Meeting can be found here
Joseph D Grist has been appointed by Governor Abigail Spanberger as Commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, effective today, May 14, 2026.
There will be an CMAC meeting on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, at 4:00 PM at the VMRC Main Office (5/14 Update: Please note location change). The meeting will be livestreamed.