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A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 28.2 a section numbered
28.2-208.4
, relating to Marine Resources Commission; fisheries climate adaptation plan; report.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 28.2 a section numbered
28.2-208.4
as follows:
§
28.2-208.4
. Fisheries climate adaptation plan; report.
A. The Commission
, in collaboration with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, shall develop and maintain a fisheries climate ad
aptation plan that utilizes the best available science to consider climate-driven impacts to Virginia fisheries
and aquaculture
and identifies adaptive management strategies and
research needs necessary to safeguard the economic and environmental health of Virginia fisheries. To aid in the development of such plan, the Commission shall convene
a technical advisory committee that includes representatives from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Eastern Shore Lab,
the
Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center
at
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
,
the
Shellfish Growers Association of Virginia, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the Virginia Waterman
'
s Association,
t
he Virginia Seafood Council,
t
he James River Association,
the
Potomac River Fisheries Commission, Virginia Commonwealth University
's
School of Life Sciences and Sustainability,
the
Virginia Climate Center at George Mason University,
the
Virginia Coastal Zone Management
Program
, a rural costal planning district commission,
the
Institute for Coastal Adaption and Resilience
at Old Dominion University
, and
the
Friends of the Rappahannock.
B. The fisheries climate adaptation plan developed
pursuant to
subsection A shall include:
1. A summary of environmental changes associated with climate change, including changes in water temperature, acidification,
rainfall patterns, wind,
and de
oxygenation;
2. A review of management actions previously taken by the Commission and other fisheries management bodies
along the Atlantic coast
to prepare for and adapt Virginia fisheries to climate change;
3. The impacts of climate change on fish and fish habitats
, including oyster reefs, submerged aquatic vegetation, and tidal marshes
;
4. The impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems,
fishery resources, and coastal communities
, including seafood landing facilities
;
5. Identification of knowledge and funding gaps needed for fisheries management bodies to prepare and adapt fisheries for the impacts of climate change;
6. Recommendations for how the Commission can better prepare fishing
and aquaculture
industries and coastal communities for the impacts of climate change;
7. Identification of fisheries that may develop
or co
ntract
as a result of climate change;
8. A socioeconomic
baseline assessment of Virginia fishing industries and coastal communities, in
cluding employment data, economic value, dependence on fisheries, and regional vulnerability to climate change impacts;
9. Recommendations for how
such plan and future updates to such plan should inform
fisheries management decisions, including consideration of environmental, economic, and community impacts
; and
10. Recommendations for how
the General Assembly can enhance the capacity of the Commission to take the management and scientific actions necessary to address climate change impacts
to protect and enhance Virginia fisheries.
C. The Commission shall
(i)
update the plan
developed pursuant to this se
ction
at least once
every
three
years
and (ii) submit a report detailing such plan
to the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, and the
Chief Resilience Offi
cer by December 1, 2026
,
for the initial plan and
by December 1 in any year in which such plan is updated.