VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
"ESTABLISHES A HAMPTON ROADS MANAGEMENT AREA AND PROHIBITS THE USE OF GILL
NETS"
REGULATION 4 VAC 20-470-10 ET SEQ.
PREAMBLE
This regulation establishes a Hampton Roads Management Area and prohibits the use of gill nets in that area between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from the Friday preceding Memorial Day through Labor Day.
This regulation is promulgated pursuant to authority contained in §28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia. This regulation amends and re-adopts previous Regulation 450-01-0061, which was adopted July 24, 1990 and effective August 1, 1990. The effective date of this regulation is July 1, 1995.
4 VAC 20-470-10. Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to reduce conflict between charter boats, recreational fishermen and gill net fishermen in the Hampton Roads area.
4 VAC 20-470-20. Hampton Roads Management Area established.
The Hampton Roads Management Area is established as that area defined as follows:
Beginning at the mean low water line of Newport News Point at its intersection with the northbound lanes of I-664; thence following the mean low water line of Hampton Roads and its tributaries and Chesapeake Bay in an easterly direction to the Fort Monroe Officers' Club Pier; thence in an easterly direction to the white and orange buoy "G"; thence in an easterly direction to Thimble Shoal Light; thence in a southerly direction to buoy G "17"; thence in a southwesterly direction to the trestle of the westbound lanes of I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel at its intersection with the south island; thence following the westbound lanes of Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to its intersection at the mean low water line of Willoughby Spit; thence following the mean low water line of Willoughby Spit in a southerly direction to the flashing light "11"; thence in a southwesterly direction approximately 2800 feet to the bulkhead corner of the U. S. Naval Reservation Heliport; thence following the mean low water line of Hampton Roads in a westerly and southerly direction to a point opposite of the grain elevator south of Pier A of the municipal terminal; thence in a westerly direction to buoy G "11"; thence in a westerly direction to buoy R "12"; thence in a southwesterly direction to the mean low water line at the northeastern corner of Craney Island Disposal Area; thence in a westerly direction to the intersection of the northbound lanes of I-664 and the south island of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel; thence in a northwesterly direction along the northbound lanes of I-664 to its intersection with the mean low water line at Newport News Point, being the point of beginning.
4 VAC 20-470-30. Gill net prohibition.
From the Friday immediately preceding Memorial Day to Labor Day, both days inclusive, and during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., it shall be unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish any gill net, including licensed staked gill nets within the Hampton Roads Management Area.
4 VAC 20-470-40. Penalty.
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 this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
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