MCMR Approves Two Notices of Intent at Aug. Meeting

BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources (MCMR) approved two notices of intent at its Aug. 21 meeting to update, modify and change sections of Mississippi Title 22 Parts 7 and 17. Both notices were filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office on Aug. 23, 2012.

The proposed changes to Title 22 Part 7 pertain to regulations to provide size limits and bag limits on certain fish species and prevention of sale of seafood by recreational fishermen. Specifically, changes entail re-wording Chapter 10, Section 109 to include establishment of a commercial quota for spotted seatrout and establishment of two four-month quota limits within the commercial season.

The proposed changes to Title 22 Part 17 pertain to shellfish landing, unloading, transporting, processing, buying, selling, opening and other shellfish-related activities in the State of Mississippi. Specifically, changes entail incorporation of time/temperature regulations that have been recently adopted by the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference/National Shellfish Sanitation Program (ISSC/NSSP) Model Ordinance. Additional changes include adding the word “molluscan” to precede the word “shellfish” in multiple references throughout Title 22 Part 17 and changes in verbiage throughout Title 22 Part 17 pertaining to “adequate icing” of shellfish. Editorial changes are also proposed to accommodate the above-mentioned revisions and maintain consistency throughout.

Public comments on the proposed regulation changes will be accepted through September 18, 2012. All comments should be mailed to the MDMR, Attention: Joe Jewell, 1141 Bayview Ave., Biloxi, MS 39530 or emailed to Joe.Jewell@dmr.ms.gov. A complete copy of Title 22 Parts 7 and 17 along with the proposed changes is available on the MDMR website at www.dmr.ms.gov.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the MDMR online at www.dmr.ms.gov.