The Virginia Marine Resources Commission will hold two public hearings on fisheries matters beginning at noon Tuesday at commission headquarters in Newport News.

The commission proposes to amend crabbing regulations to allow crab pot and peeler pot licensees to be permitted for an alternate lawful daily time period for commercial harvesting activities.

Spokesman John Bull said this alternate daily time period would allow the harvesting of crabs by crab pot or peeler pot from 4 a.m. to noon, May 1-Aug. 31, and 5 a.m.-1 p.m. during September. Currently, the lawful daily time period is 6 a.m.-2 p.m., March 17-April 30, 5 a.m.-1 p.m. May 1-Aug. 31, and 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 1-Nov. 30.

On a separate fisheries matter, Bull said the commission proposes to reduce the number of bluefish that can be caught commercially. The commission wants to establish the 2011 commercial bluefish quota at 1,113,727 pounds, compared to the 2010 commercial bluefish quota of 1,213,280 pounds, Bull said.

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