REGULATION: PERTAINING TO CRAB CATCH LIMITS

VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
"PERTAINING TO CRAB CATCH LIMITS"
REGULATION 4 VAC 20-300-10 ET SEQ.

PREAMBLE

This Chapter establishes a daily catch limit for the spring crab pot fishery in Virginia tidal waters and is promulgated pursuant to the authority contained in §§ 28.201 and 28.2-713 of the Code of Virginia. This chapter amends and re-adopts, as amended, previous Chapter 4 VAC 20-300-10 which was promulgated February 28, 1995 and made effective on March 2, 1995. The effective date of this chapter, as amended, is March 30, 2007.

4 VAC 20-300-10. PURPOSE.

The provisions of this chapter are in response to increased fishing pressure on the crab resource and are in the interest of conservation and the crab industry.

4 VAC 20-300-20. CATCH LIMIT AND SEASON.

A. During the period March 17 through May 31 no boat or vessel shall take or catch by crab pot, or have in possession more than 5l bushels or l7 barrels of crabs in any one day.

B. In examining a particular boat's catch, if the marine police officer finds crabs in excess of the 51 bushel or 17 barrel limit, the quantity of crabs in excess shall be immediately returned to the water by the person who possessed such crabs. The refusal to return crabs to the water shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter.

4 VAC 20-300-30. PENALTY.

As set forth in §28.2-713 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

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