BELOW IS FULL DETAILS ON THE CHARTER 

VMRC has updated our guidelines for the Charter for Hire industry operations during COVID-19 for Phase II reopening. The updated version clarifies VMRC authorities and removes the specific boat size capacity restrictions and shelter-in-place family allowance. For-hire and head boat capacity is limited to the number of people who can socially distance on board, regardless if they have sheltered-in-place together or not. Each passenger must be six feet away from the next passenger. If you have further questions, please email Fisheries@mrc.virginia.gov. 

GUIDELINES FOR FOR-HIRE FISHING VESSELS TO OPERATE DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2020 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

Dear WILLIAM MARK FLANAGAN, VMRC ID: N064999

VMRC has updated the guidelines for the Charter for Hire industry operations during COVID-19 for "Safer at Home: Phase III" starting July 1. The updated version adjusts the social distancing requirements to mirror those in place for restaurants and beverage services and provides recommendations for updated signage. If you have further questions, please email fisheries@mrc.virginia.gov.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to charter boat captains and the public-at-large on complying with the Governor’s Executive Orders and "Safer at Home: Phase Three". These orders were issued because of the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Any willful violation of these executive orders may be prosecuted as a Class I misdemeanor under Va. Code § 32.1-27.

Thus, this document will also be used to guide the Commission and its staff in the application of the Commission’s enforcement authority under EO 61(A)(9) and will serve to inform citizens of the general guidelines that will be applied to charter boat captains operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nothing in this statement, however, restricts or impedes the power of the Commission, Marine Police Officers, or staff to review each circumstance on its individual facts and apply only those conditions considered appropriate or to consider unusual or mitigating circumstances. The Commission generally will prioritize education and correction of issues over criminal enforcement.

Guidance for All Charters:
Before a trip:

• Post all information on website or inform customer by      other means regarding precautions, cleaning plan, and requirements.      Pre-screen customers for COVID-19 at time of booking: 

· Establish policies and practices for physical distancing between co-workers and members of the public, including liberal sick leave policies for employees and allowing customers to cancel their trip with no penalty if they are sick. Such policies and procedures relevant to the customers should be clearly communicated on the charter’s website, or otherwise made available at the time of booking. 

· Develop pre-screening criteria for customers based on VDH interim guidance (VDH Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical Infrastructure Workers During Widespread Community Transmission).

· Post signage on the vessel and/or on your website that states that no one with a fever or symptoms of COVID-19, or known exposure to a COVID-19 case in the prior 14 days, is permitted on the vessel.

· Post signage on the vessel and/or on your website to provide public health reminders regarding physical distancing, gatherings, options for high-risk individuals, and staying home if sick. Samples are provided in the "Safer at Home: Phase Three" guidance document. 

• Thoroughly clean and disinfect high-contact areas      following CDC Reopening Guidance.

· At a minimum the plan should include routine cleaning and disinfection of high contact areas and hard surfaces, including check out stations and payment pads, store entrance push/pull pads, door knobs/handles, handrails, restrooms, floors, safety gear, and fishing equipment. Follow CDC Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfection guidance and use an EPA-approved disinfectant to clean. For high contact areas, routinely disinfect surfaces at least every 2 hours. Certain surfaces and objects in public spaces, such as handrails, fishing rods, and tackle, should be cleaned and disinfected before each use.

• Screen employees prior to start of shift:

· Prior to a shift and on days employees are scheduled to work, the employees should self-monitor their symptoms such as by self-taking of temperature to check for fever before reporting to work. For employers with established occupational health programs, employers can consider measuring temperature and assessing symptoms of employees prior to starting work/before each shift. CDC considers a person to have a fever when he or she has a measured temperature of 100.4° F (38° C) or greater, feels warm to the touch, or gives a history of feeling feverish. Implement practices such as those described in VDH Interim Guidance for Implementing Safety Practices for Critical I nfrastructure Workers During Widespread Community Transmission for examples of a screening questionnaire. A sample symptom monitoring log is available in this Interim Guidance.

During the trip:

· Whenever possible, employees and customers should wear face coverings over their nose and mouth, such as using CDC Use of Cloth Face Coverings guidance. All persons must wear a mask when in an interior space. 

· Captain must provide hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) at multiple points on the boat and passengers must use it before they board the boat. 

· Surfaces on the boat must be regularly cleaned and disinfected at the beginning and end of each trip. 

· Frequent cleanings of common surfaces, such as handrails and fishing equipment during the course of each trip. In public areas, this means every 2 hours using EPA-approved disinfectants. 

Social Distancing Requirements for Six Pack and Headboat vessels:

· Trips are limited to parties/groups that book the full vessel capacity together OR 

· For "splits": All individual groups/parties that booked a trip together must be separated by at least six feet, from any other group/party that booked a trip together. These guidelines mirror the requirements for businesses such as restaurants or beverage services as outlined in "Safer at Home: Phase Three".

• "KEEPING IT CHEAP AND KEEPING IT FUN WHILE KEEPING IT AVAILABLE FOR EVERYONE"
  THIS YEARS PRICES INCLUDES CAPTAIN , BOAT, TACKLE AND MATE. THE PRICE IS $425 PLUS $100 MINIMUM MATE TIP (LESS THAN $90.00 PER PERSON WHEN 6 PEOPLE GO!) WE FISH FOR WHAT IS IN SEASON STRIPER/ROCKFISH OR SITE COBIA AND TROLL FOR MAC N BLUES. WE BOTTOM FISH AND SPADE FISH TOO.... YOUR CHOICE. I AM ONE OF THE FEW CHARTERS WHERE I PROMOTE SITE AND CATCH YOUR OWN COBIA FROM MY CUSTOM TOWER. THE AMOUNTS LISTED ARE THE TOTAL AMOUNT YOU PAY FOR 6 PASSENGERS (I DON'T CHARGE TAX BUT MY MATE WORKS FOR TIPS) I ALSO BRING MY LAB (DOG) PLEASE LET ME KNOW AHEAD OF TIME IF THIS IS A PROBLEM. THIS IS AN INSURED BUSINESS WITH USCG CAPTAIN WITH 50 YEARS CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHING EXPERIENCE. THIS IS A 6 PACK CHARTER (6 PASSENGERS TOTAL). WILL BE GOING OUT OF HORN HARBOR MARINA IN MATHEWS,VA. FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK "CHESAPEAKE CHARTERS"  I FISH THE MOBJACK BAY, RAPPAHANOCK AND YORK RIVER AREAS AND WILL GO TO EASTERN SHORE AND CBBT ON FAIR WEATHER DAYS. 

• WE FISH FOR THE FOLLOWING:
  STRIPER/COBIA/SPOT/SPADE/ CROAKER/BLUES/SPANISH MAC/

DRUM/TAUG/FLOUNDER 

ALL BAY FISH THAT ARE IN SEASON

  ALL ARE WELCOME: FAMILY, FRIENDS,COWORKERS,CHURCH GROUPS,KIDS WITH PARENTS, ETC. PLEASE CALL 

 757 508 0718.

• Q&A
  *WE LEAVE THE DOCK BY 7AM AND FISH TILL 2PM BACK AT DOCK ROUND 3PM. 8 HOUR TRIP.
  *I CAN ONLY BRING 6 PASSENGERS
  BOAT:
  YES.......THERE IS A TOILET
  YES.......YOU CAN BRING ALCOHOL
  YES.......YOU CAN SMOKE (NO NOT THAT)
  YES ......THERE IS A COOLER AND ICE ON BOARD FOR YOUR FISH
  YES.......THERE IS A FISH CLEANING STATION AT DOCK
  YES....... FISHING LICENSE (YOU DON'T NEED ONE)
  YES....... ALL SAFETY GEAR LIKE LIFE JACKETS EVEN KIDS SIZE
  YES........WE HELP CLEAN FISH
  YES........MATE TIPS ARE APPRECIATED USUALLY $100 OR MORE
  NO..........INSURANCE DOES NOT ALLOW SWIMMING /DIVING
  NO.........YOU DON'T NEED A DEPOSIT JUST CLICK ON THE DATE AND RESERVE YOUR SPOT ON THE CALENDAR.