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

John Bull, a VMRC spokesman, said one of the matters pertains to restrictions on shellfish. The commission will consider modifications to a chapter in the regulations that defines a "layer" of ice as "a single thickness of coating spread out and covering a surface." As proposed, the regulations would require those using ice to completely cover shellfish with a layer of ice.

Another proposed change, Bull said, concerns commercial tagging of shellfish. The proposed change calls for a person harvesting shellfish for commercial purposes to affix a tag to each container of shellfish, as soon as possible and before leaving any harvest area. Currently, any harvester shall affix a tag to each container of shellfish before the shellfish are removed from that harvester’s boat.

The commission also wi...