Virginia Administrative Code

As set forth in § 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any individual violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter committed by the same individual within 12 months of a prior …

The purpose of this chapter is to (i) reduce fishing mortality and increase the size of the scup spawning stock; (ii) improve yield from the commercial and recreational fisheries; (iii) promote compatible measures between the states and federal fishery jurisdictions; and (iv) mai…

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Scup" means any fish of the species Stenotomus chrysops, commonly referred to as porgy. "Snout" means the most forward projection from a fish…

A. The minimum size limit of scup harvested by commercial fishing gear shall be nine inches in total length. B. The minimum size limit of scup harvested by recreational fishing gear including hook and line, rod and reel, spear, and gig shall be nine inches in total length. C. It …

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish any fish pot in Virginia tidal waters for the purposes of harvesting scup or to land in Virginia scup harvested by fish pots that are not constructed as follows: 1. With an escape vent of 2.25 inches square dimension or 3…

A. During the commercial Winter I period January 1 through April 30 of each year, it shall be unlawful for any person to do any of the following: 1. Possess aboard any vessel in Virginia more than 50,000 pounds of scup; 2. Land in Virginia more than a total of 50,000 pounds of sc…

As set forth in § 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violatio…

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a license for the landing of seafood for commercial purposes in Virginia. Statutory Authority§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise: "Land" or "landing" means to (i) enter port with finfish, shellfish, crustaceans, or other marine seafood on board any boat or vessel; (ii) be…

A. It shall be unlawful for any boat or vessel to land seafood in Virginia for commercial purposes without a Seafood Landing License provided from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission or its agent. The license shall be required of each boat or vessel used to land seafood for …

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

A. As set forth in § 28.2-228.1 of the Code of Virginia, the following shall constitute Class 3 misdemeanors: (i) landing seafood without the license required by this chapter and (ii) failure to produce or have available for inspection the license required by this chapter when re…

The purposes of this chapter are to (i) reduce fishing mortality in the black sea bass fishery to ensure that overfishing does not occur, (ii) promote the health of the spawning stock biomass, (iii) improve the yield from the fishery, (iv) distribute shares of the black sea bass …

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Black sea bass" means any fish of the species Centropristis striata. "Land" or "landing" means to (i) enter port with finfish, shellfish, crus…

A. The minimum size for black sea bass harvested by commercial fishing gear shall be 11 inches in total length. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, trade, or barter, or offer to sell, trade, or barter any black sea bass less than 11 inches in total length, except as desc…

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish any fish pot in Virginia tidal waters for the purposes of harvesting black sea bass or to possess or to land in Virginia black sea bass harvested by fish pots which are not constructed as follows: 1. With two escape vents…

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing with hook-and-line, rod and reel, spear, gig, or other recreational gear to possess more than 15 black sea bass. When fishing from a recreational vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession lim…

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to participate in the commercial black sea bass fishery or to possess, harvest, or sell black sea bass, except as described in 4VAC20-950-60 and 4VAC20-950-70, without first qualifying for and obtaining either a directed fishery permit or a …

A. The commercial landings of black sea bass shall be limited to the annual quota pursuant to the joint Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council/Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan, except as specified in subsection B of this section.…

A. Each person possessing a directed fishery permit shall be assigned an individual fishery quota, in pounds, for each calendar year. A person's individual fishery quota shall be equal to that person's percentage of the total landings of black sea bass in Virginia from July 1, 19…

A. Shares of the directed fishery quota, in pounds, held by any permitted fisherman in the directed fishery may be transferred to another person, and such transfer shall allow the transferee to harvest, possess, and land black sea bass in Virginia in a quantity equal to the share…

A. Any person possessing a directed fishery permit may authorize an alternate vessel to harvest, possess, and land any portion of that person's individual directed fishery quota, provided the following conditions are met: 1. The directed fishery permit holder has submitted a comp…

A. It shall be unlawful for any person permitted for the directed fishery, the bycatch fishery, or for an authorized alternate landing vessel to fail to contact, within one hour of landing, the Law Enforcement Operations to report that person's name and the name of the vessel, th…

(Repealed.)

It shall be unlawful for any person to operate an aquaculture facility in which any black sea bass will be cultured, possessed, offered for sale, or sold without first obtaining from the Marine Resources Commission (commission) a black sea bass aquaculture facility permit for tha…

(Repealed.)

As set forth in § 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violatio…

The purpose of this chapter is to (i) reduce fishing mortality in the tautog fishery to assure that overfishing does not occur, (ii) increase the spawning stock biomass, and (iii) establish criteria for monitoring commercially harvested tautog. Statutory Authority§ 28.2-201 of th…

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Commercial fishing" or "fishing commercially" or "commercial purposes" means fishing by any person where the catch is for sale, barter, or t…

A. The minimum size limit of tautog harvested for commercial purposes shall be 15 inches in total length. B. The minimum size of tautog harvested for recreational purposes shall be 16 inches in total length. C. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any tautog of a total …

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish any fish pot in Virginia tidal waters for the purposes of harvesting tautog or to possess or to land in Virginia tautog harvested by fish pots which are not constructed with hinges and fasteners on one panel or door made …

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing with hook and line, rod and reel, spear, gig, or other recreational gear to possess more than four tautog. When fishing is from a boat or vessel where the entire catch is held in a common hold or container, the possession limit shall…

The commercial fishing season shall be closed from January 22 through the last day of February and May 16 through October 31, and it shall be unlawful for any person to possess tautog for commercial purposes during this period. Statutory Authority§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virgini…

A. It shall be unlawful for any registered commercial fisherman to take, catch, or possess any tautog without obtaining a valid Tautog Commercial Permit. B. It shall be unlawful to land or possess for commercial purposes any tautog that has not been identified with a tag issued b…

A. All permitted commercial harvesters shall report daily harvest of tautog to the commission in accordance with 4VAC20-610, specifying the number of tags used each day on forms provided by the commission. Such reports shall be submitted to the commission no later than the fifth …

As set forth in § 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation for any provision of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violati…

A. Any person failing to submit any report or account for any unused tags as required by this chapter shall be denied a Tautog Commercial Permit until the person complies with the requirements of 4VAC20-960-48 L and 4VAC20-960-49. B. It shall be unlawful for any person who has be…

The purpose of this chapter is to promote conservation of the spadefish resource and to reduce the possibility of overfishing this resource. Statutory Authority§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meaning unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. "Spadefish" means any fish of the species Chaetodipterus faber. Statutory Authority§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing with recreational hook and line, rod and reel, hand line, spear, gig or other recreational gear to possess more than four spadefish. Any spadefish taken after the possession limit of four fish has been reached shall be returned to th…

As set forth in 3 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this regulation shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this regulation committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior vi…

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

(Repealed.)

The purpose of this chapter is to establish a viable commercial hook-and-line fishery in Virginia tidal waters while minimizing the potential for overharvesting of Virginia's fishery stocks and conflicts with the recreational fishery. Statutory Authority§§ 28.2-201 and 28.2-204.1…