TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION

Final Regulation

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-1290. Pertaining to Restrictions on the Harvest of Shellfish and in Condemned Shellfish Areas (amending 4VAC20-1290-20, 4VAC20-1290-30, 4VAC20-1290-40).

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

Effective Date: April 1, 2024.

Agency Contact: Jennifer Farmer, Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 380 Fenwick Road, Building 96, Fort Monroe, VA 23651, telephone (757) 247-2248, FAX (757) 247-2002, or email jennifer.farmer@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) update the name of a division of the Virginia Department of Health and (ii) disallow leasing as general oyster planting grounds all unassigned or vacant state-owned bottomland designated as a condemned shellfish area.

4VAC20-1290-20. Definitions.

The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates otherwise:

"Daily restricted shellfish area relay permit" means a one-day permit issued by the Marine Resources Commission for the relay of shellfish from a general oyster planting ground within a restricted shellfish area.

"Restricted shellfish area" means any area designated by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation, Safety and Waterborne Hazards wherein it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to take shellfish for any purpose except by permit granted by the Marine Resources Commission as provided in § 28.2-810 of the Code of Virginia.

"Prohibited shellfish area" means any area designated by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation, Safety and Waterborne Hazards wherein it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to take shellfish for any purpose.

4VAC20-1290-30. Restrict leasing of condemned shellfish areas.

All unassigned or vacant state-owned bottomland designated as a condemned shellfish area that is not assigned to or reserved for riparian owners prior to June 1, 2015, by the Virginia Department of Health, and classified as either restricted shellfish area or prohibited shellfish area for the direct harvest of shellfish, shall not be leased as general oyster planting grounds.

4VAC20-1290-40. Permit to relay shellfish from restricted shellfish areas.

A. It shall be unlawful to relay shellfish from a general oyster planting ground within a restricted shellfish area without first obtaining a daily restricted shellfish area relay permit from the Marine Resources Commission.

B. The daily restricted shellfish area relay permit shall be valid for only one calendar day of shellfish relay activities. Shellfish area relay activities authorized by issuance of a daily restricted shellfish area relay permit shall not begin before 6 a.m. and shall not extend beyond 6 p.m.

C. A daily restricted shellfish area relay permit shall only be issued to a lawfully licensed oyster aquaculture product owner permittee or a clam aquaculture product owner permittee.

D. Any person whose commercial fisherman registration license, oyster aquaculture product owner permit, or clam aquaculture product owner permit is currently revoked or rescinded by the Marine Resources Commission pursuant to § 28.2-232 or 28.2-528 of the Code of Virginia shall not be authorized to possess a daily restricted shellfish area relay permit. Any person who fails to pay at any time all fees, all costs, and the current annual rent for the general oyster planting ground identified for harvest or relay of shellfish shall be subject to either nonissuance or termination of that daily restricted shellfish area relay permit.

E. The daily restricted shellfish area relay permit shall include (i) the name, address, and telephone number of the permittee; (ii) the location of the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation, Safety and Waterborne Hazards restricted shellfish area; (iii) the general oyster planting ground lease numbers from which the shellfish will be harvested from; (iv) the location of the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation Safety and Waterborne Hazards approved relay area; (v) the general oyster planting ground lease numbers on which the shellfish will be planted on; (vi) the vessel identification for each vessel used to relay shellfish (Coast Guard documentation number, Virginia license number, or hull/VIN number); (vii) the vehicle identification number for each vehicle used to relay shellfish (Virginia license number or VIN number); (viii) the identification and address of any offloading location or facility; and (ix) if cages will be used and conform to the provisions established by 4VAC20-310, "Pertaining to the Relaying of Shellfish (4VAC20-310)."

F. Any harvesting of shellfish from a restricted shellfish area, including any loading of vessels or vehicles, and planting of shellfish from a restricted shellfish area shall be conducted under Marine Resources Commission staff supervision. All scheduling of harvesting and planting of shellfish from a restricted shellfish area shall be determined by the marine police area supervisors based on the availability of Marine Resources Commission staff and weather conditions. Permittees shall notify the marine police supervisors of the restricted shellfish harvest area and corresponding planting area no later than one week before any restricted shellfish area relay activities can occur.

G. Upon Prior to approval of any daily restricted shellfish area relay permit and before issuance of said such permit, the permittee shall pay the Marine Resources Commission a one-time fee of $150.00 for each day of planned shellfish relay activities for the calendar year in which the shellfish relay will occur.