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IMPORTANT: The following table contains links to the full text of the current regulations established by the VMRC. The texts of our regulations have been provided for reference only; summaries of current restrictions have also been posted and are much easier to understand than the underlying regulations. The regulation summaries are available at the following links:
Saltwater Recreational Hook & Line FishingThe regulation texts provided below are not legal copies of the regulations. Please request signed copies from the VMRC. If you would like to know more about the regulatory process or get to links leading to statutes related to the Commission, click here.
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CATEGORY |
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All |
REGULATION # |
TITLE |
EFFECTIVE |
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Pertaining to Display of License to Catch Finfish or Crabs |
08/01/1995 |
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4 VAC 20-610-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Commercial Fishing and Mandatory Harvest Reporting | 12/01/2013 |
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Pertaining to Recreational Gear Licenses |
06/01/2009 |
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Pertaining to Nonresident Harvesters License Fee |
12/01/2005 |
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Pertaining to Importation of Fish, Shellfish or Crustacea |
11/27/2002 |
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Pertaining to Landing Licenses |
12/01/2010 | |
| 4 VAC 20-1045-10 ET SEQ. |
Pertaining to Establishment of Restricted Areas |
10/01/2004 |
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| 4 VAC 20-1050-10 ET SEQ. |
Restricted area at Huntington Ingalls Industries/Newport News Shipbuilding Company |
07/26/2011 | |
| 4 VAC 20-1060-10 ET SEQ. |
Restricted area at Dominion Power/Nuclear Power Station |
02/01/2011 | |
| 4 VAC 20-1065-10 ET SEQ. |
Pertaining to Establishment of Restricted Area - Plum Tree Island Wildlife Refuge Range |
02/01/2005 | |
| 4 VAC 20-1090-10 ET SEQ. |
Pertaining to Licensing Requirements and License Fees |
01/01/2015 | |
| 4 VAC 20-1150-10 ET SEQ. |
Pertaining to Charter Boat and Head Boat Fisheries |
08/01/2008 | |
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Pertaining to requirements related to the purchase of fish, from the catcher |
12/01/2008 |
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| 4VAC20-1240-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Fisherman Identification Program | 03/01/2012 | |
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Clam |
REGULATION # |
TITLE |
EFFECTIVE |
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Pertaining to the Harvesting of Clams |
02/01/2007 |
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Pertaining to the Taking of Clams on Seaside of Eastern Shore |
08/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Harvesting of Surf Clams |
12/01/2005 |
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Pertaining to the Shellfish Management Areas |
09/01/2012 |
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| 4 VAC 20-561-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to the Hampton Flats Hard Clam Harvest Area | 08/16/2001 | |
| Pertaining to the Hampton Roads Shellfish Relay Area | 08/01/2006 | ||
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Pertaining to the Taking of Hard Clams |
04/14/1995 |
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Crab |
REGULATION # |
TITLE |
EFFECTIVE |
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Pertaining to the Licensing of Crab Traps and Pounds |
08/01/1995 |
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Repealed |
Pertaining to Crab Catch Limits |
04/30/2008 |
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Repealed |
Pertaining to Dredging for Crabs |
04/30/2008 |
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Pertaining to the Identification of Crab Pots, Peeler Pots, and Fish Pots |
10/01/2011 |
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Pertaining to Tangier Island Crab Scrape Sanctuary |
05/01/1997 |
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Pertaining to Crabbing |
07/05/2014 |
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Pertaining to Crab Catch Limits |
11/27/2012 |
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Pertaining to the Culling of Crabs |
06/01/2010 |
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Pertaining to the Use of Crab Traps and Pounds |
03/02/1995 |
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Pertaining to Crab Pots |
03/01/2009 |
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Repealed |
Pertaining to Crab Dredge License Sales |
04/30/2008 |
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Pertaining to Blue Crab Sanctuaries |
11/30/2012 |
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Pertaining to Hard Crab Pot Limits |
06/01/2009 |
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Pertaining to Crabbing Licenses |
10/01/2011 |
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Prohibition of Crab Dredging in Virginia Waters |
11/01/2014 |
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| Repealed | 4 VAC 20-1210-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to a Blue Crab Sanctuary | 11/30/12 |
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Finfish |
REGULATION # |
TITLE |
EFFECTIVE |
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Pertaining to Fishing in Broad & Linkhorn Bays |
08/01/1995 |
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| 4 VAC 20-20-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to the Licensing of Fixed Fishing Devices | 07/16/2010 | |
| Pertaining to Pound Net Siting Public Interest Review |
12/01/2004 |
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Pertaining to the Setting of Fishing Devices Proximate to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel |
07/29/2005 |
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Pertaining to the Identification and Location of Crab Pots, Peeler Pots, Fish Pots |
10/01/2011 |
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Pertaining to the Removal of Nets |
05/01/2005 |
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Pertaining to Measuring Mesh Size of Menhaden Nets |
08/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Taking of Finfish by Gill Nets |
07/01/1995 |
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| 4 VAC 20-252-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass | 01/01/2015 | |
| 4 VAC 20-280-10 ET SEQ. |
Pertaining to Speckled Trout and Red Drum |
01/01/2015 | |
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Pertaining to the Taking of Black Drum |
06/01/2009 |
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Pertaining to Prohibiting the Sale of Billfish |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to Grey Trout (Weakfish) |
05/01/2010 |
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Pertaining to the Use of Trawls in the Territorial Sea |
04/13/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Marking and Minimum Mesh Size of Gill Nets |
01/01/2012 |
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Emergency regulation effective 01/28/2015 |
Pertaining to the Taking of Bluefish |
01/28/2015 |
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Pertaining to the Taking of Bluefish |
08/01/2014 |
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Pertaining to Hampton Roads Management Area |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to Eastern Shore Bayside Management Areas |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to Sharks |
10/01/2014 |
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Pertaining to the Catching of Eels |
01/01/2015 |
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Pertaining to Amberjack and Cobia |
04/01/2014 |
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Pertaining to American Shad |
03/01/2013 |
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Pertaining to Spanish and King Mackerel |
06/01/2012 |
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Pertaining to the Removal of Gill Nets and Other Non-Fixed Finfishing Gear |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Use of Firearms to Take Fish |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Alteration of Finfish |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to Pound Net License Sales |
06/26/1997 |
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Pertaining to Summer Flounder |
12/10/2014 |
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Pertaining to Gill Nets |
04/14/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Snagging of Fish |
04/12/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Setting and Mesh Size of Gill Nets |
09/27/2014 | ||
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Pertaining to Artificial Reefs |
09/01/2007 |
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Pertaining to Scup (Porgy) |
11/01/2014 |
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| Pertaining to Landing Licenses | 12/01/2010 | ||
| 4 VAC 20-950-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Black Sea Bass | 01/31/2015 | |
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Pertaining to Tautog |
01/01/2013 |
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Pertaining to Spadefish |
01/01/2002 |
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Pertaining to Commercial Hook-and-Line Fishing |
12/01/2010 |
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Pertaining to Haul Seines |
08/28/2009 |
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Pertaining to Monkfish (Goosefish) |
05/01/2005 |
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Pertaining to Sheepshead |
05/01/2007 |
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Pertaining to Tilefish and Groupers |
05/01/2012 |
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Pertaining to Fishing Guides |
12/01/2009 |
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4 VAC 20-1190-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Gill Net Control Date, Limited Entry, and Transfers | 01/01/2010 |
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4 VAC 20-1220-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to the Separation Between Nets | 09/01/2009 |
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4 VAC 20-1260-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to River Herring | 03/29/2012 |
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4 VAC 20-1270-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Atlantic Menhaden | 01/01/2015 |
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Habitat |
REGULATION # |
TITLE |
EFFECTIVE |
| Wetlands Guidelines | 09/01/1993 | ||
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Pertaining to the Promulgation of a Public Notice on Applications to Encroach In, On, or Over Subaqueous Lands of the Commonwealth |
03/01/1983 |
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| 4 VAC 20-333-10 ET SEQ. | Virginia General Permit for Projects undertaken by the Virginia Department of Transportation In, On or Over State-Owned Subaqueous Lands Anywhere Within the Commonwealth. | 07/06/1999 | |
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Pertaining to On-Bottom Shellfish Aquaculture Activities |
01/01/1998 |
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General Permit for Noncommercial Riparian Shellfish Growing (I.E. "Gardening") Activities |
01/01/1998 |
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| 4 VAC 20-337-10 ET SEQ | Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Transplantation Guidelines | 11/01/2000 | |
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Public Participation Guidelines |
06/30/1993 |
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General Wetlands Permit for Emergency Situations |
03/01/1998 |
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Criteria for the Siting of Marinas or Community Facilities for Boat Mooring |
06/07/1988 |
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Wetlands Mitigation-Compensation Policy |
07/01/2005 |
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Guidelines for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Tidal Wetland Mitigation Banks in Virginia |
01/01/1998 |
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4 VAC 20-395-10 ET SEQ. |
GENERAL PERMIT #6 FOR Emergency Situations and Water Quality Improvement Projects in non-tidal waterways. | 06/30/2009 | |
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4 VAC 20-398-10 ET SEQ. |
BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE REPORTING | 11/01/2001 | |
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Criteria for the Placement of Sandy Dredged Material along Beaches in the Commonwealth |
08/02/1989 |
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Coastal Primary Sand Dune / Reaches Guidelines: Barrier Island Policy |
10/24/1990 |
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| Coastal Primary Sand Dunes Beaches Guidelines | 09/01/1993 | ||
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Management Plan for the Ungranted State Lands in Accomack and Northampton Counties |
03/15/1999 |
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| Subaqueous Guidelines | 11/2005 | ||
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RESCINDED JULY 6, 2006 |
Private Pier Guidance Criteria | 11/2005 | |
| Rent and Royalty Schedule | 12/01/2005 | ||
| Guidance for Civil Charge Assessments Pursant §28.2-1213 Code of Virginia | 03/27/2012 | ||
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Oyster |
REGULATION # |
TITLE |
EFFECTIVE |
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Repealed |
Pertaining to the Requirements for Reporting Oyster Transactions and Payment of Taxes |
07/01/2013 |
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| 4 VAC 20-260-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Designation of Seed Areas and Clean Cull Areas | 10/01/2014 | |
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Pertaining to Marking of Leased Oyster Planting Ground |
08/01/1995 |
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Establishment of Oyster Sanctuary Areas |
10/01/2010 |
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| 4 VAC 20-1200-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to the Special Relay Season in the Rappahannock river | 04/01/2009 | |
| 4 VAC 20-720-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest | 10/01/2014 | |
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Shellfish Mix |
REGULATION # |
TITLE |
EFFECTIVE |
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Pertaining to Lobsters |
09/01/2012 |
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Pertaining to Prohibited Areas for the Use of Patent Tongs |
08/01/1995 |
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| Pertaining to the Dredging of Conchs (Also known as Whelks) | 01/01/2008 | ||
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Pertaining to the Relaying of Shellfish |
03/01/2007 |
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Pertaining to the Taking of Shellfish from Condemned Areas |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Use of Patent Tongs |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to the Use of Patent Tongs |
07/01/1995 |
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Pertaining to Channeled Whelk |
07/01/2007 |
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4 VAC 20-900-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Horseshoe Crab | 01/01/2015 |
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Pertaining to On-Shore Loading and Unloading of Shellfish from Condemned Areas |
05/30/1997 |
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Pertaining to Dredging in Submerged Aquatic Vegetation |
01/30/1998 |
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Pertaining to Bay Scallops |
02/01/1999 |
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Pertaining to Shellfish Handling |
07/01/2006 |
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General Permit #4 for Temporary Protective Enclosures for Shellfish |
12/01/2007 |
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| 4 VAC 20-1230-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to Restrictions on Shellfish | 10/01/2014 | |
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4 VAC 20-1250-10 ET SEQ. | Pertaining to the Tagging of Shellfish | 05/31/2012 |
Revised December 23, 2014
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