Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-720. Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest(amending 4VAC20-720-106).

Statutory Authority: §§28.2-201 and 28.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Dates: September 1, 2008, through September 30, 2008.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, Agency Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resource Commission, 2600 Washington Ave. 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email betty.warren@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments establish summer harvest hours and other restrictions necessary when working on public or private oyster grounds in order to protect the public's health.

4VAC20-720-106. Public health and warm water harvest restrictions.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to have any cat, dog, or other animal on board a vessel during the harvest of oysters.

B. From May 1 through September 30, any vessel used for the harvest of oysters for human consumption from either public or private grounds shall have shading over the area that serves as storage for the oysters (except as described in subsection C of this section), and all oysters in the vessel shall be offloaded every day.

C. From May 1 through September 30, any vessel used for the harvest of oysters for human consumption that are placed in an aquaculture container completely covered by a lid or top, shall not be required to have shading over that container.

D. From May 1 June 15 through September 30 August 31, it shall be unlawful for any person, or person aboard a vessel, to leave the dock or shore prior to one hour before sunrise to harvest or attempt to harvest oysters from public or private grounds.

E. From May 1 through June 14, it shall be unlawful to harvest oysters for human consumption from public or private grounds after 11 a.m., and oysters harvested before 11 a.m. shall be refrigerated by 11 a.m. that same day.

E. F. From May 1 June 15 through September 30 August 31, it shall be unlawful to harvest oysters for human consumption from public or private grounds after 10 a.m., and oysters harvested before 10 a.m. shall be refrigerated by 10 a.m. that same day, except as described below:.

G. From September 1 through September 30, it shall be unlawful to harvest oysters for human consumption from public or private grounds after 12 p.m., and oysters harvested before 12 p.m. shall be refrigerated by 12 p.m. that same day.

1. This H. Subsections E, F, and G of this section shall not apply to the harvest of seed oysters or the customary husbandry processes associated with aquaculture of oysters.

2. I. Oysters may be harvested after 10 a.m. the designated end time in subsections E, F, and G provided there is a Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation-approved refrigeration system or ice storage area for the oysters on board the harvest vessel that is in use for cooling oysters at all times after 10 a.m. or the total time expended on harvesting those oysters does not exceed two hours from start of harvest to refrigeration of those oysters and there is verifiable documentation, such as a log book or GPS trip log that corresponds to that harvest event.

3. The total time expended on harvesting those oysters does not exceed two hours from start of harvest to refrigeration of those oysters, and there is verifiable documentation, such as a log book or GPS trip log that corresponds to that harvesting event.