The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted April 24 to establish the commercial possession limit for blueline tilefish.

As approved during the regular commission meeting at its headquarters in Newport News, the possession limit was set at 300 pounds, or 273 pounds gutted.

Spokesman John Bull said the commission set a vessel limit for all species of tilefish at 500 pounds, or 455 pounds gutted.

On a separate fisheries matter, the commission voted to modify the commercial fishery possession limit pertaining to black sea bass. The change allows vessels to possess the North Carolina commercial black sea bass limit, in addition to the Virginia limit.

This change is similar to summer flounder regulations, Bull said, as the species are commonly caught together by the offshore trawl fleet.

Also, the commission modified the commercial landing limits of horseshoe crabs, from waters east of the COLREGS demarcation line, by trawl and non-trawl gears.

In other business, the commis...