The Virginia Marine Resources Commission will hold a public hearing about a proposed regulation to establish a moratorium on river herring beginning at noon Tuesday at the commission offices, 2600 Washington Avenue, Newport News.

Commission spokesman John Bull said that the commission proposed an amendment to establish a moratorium on the river herring species of alewife and blueback herring, effective Jan. 1, 2012. During the moratorium, Bull said it shall be unlawful for any person to catch, harvest, land, sell or offer for sale any river herring.

The proposed amendments are in response to the status of the resource and are necessary to comply with the provisions of the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for River Herring, established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Bull said.

Also, the commission will hold a separate public hearing on proposed amendments to regulations pertaining to sharks. The commission is considering establishing an annual quota for sp...