TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES

MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION

Final Regulation

Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-270. Pertaining to Blue Crab Fishery (amending 4VAC20-270-40, 4VAC20-270-51, 4VAC20-270-57).

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

Effective Date: July 5, 2025.

Agency Contact: Zachary Widgeon, Director of Communications, Marine Resources Commission, 380 Fenwick Road, Building 96, Fort Monroe, VA 23651, telephone (757) 247-2200, fax (757) 247-2002, or email zachary.widgeon@mrc.virginia.gov.

Summary:

The amendments (i) establish management measures, including season and bushel limits, for the 2025-2026 commercial blue crab fisheries and (ii) close the 2025-2026 winter commercial crab dredge fishing season.

4VAC20-270-40. Season limits.

A. In 2024 2025, the lawful season for the commercial harvest of crabs by hard crab pot shall be March 17 through December 16 20. In 2025 2026, the lawful season for the commercial harvest of crabs by hard crab pot shall be March 17 through November 30. For all other lawful commercial gear used to harvest crabs, as described in 4VAC20-1040, the lawful seasons for the harvest of crabs shall be April 15 through October 15.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest crabs or to possess crabs on board a vessel, except during the lawful season as described in subsection A of this section.

C. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly place, set, fish, or leave any hard crab pot in any tidal waters of Virginia from December 17 21, 2024 2025, through March 16, 2025 2026. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly place, set, fish, or leave any lawful commercial gear used to harvest crabs, except any hard crab pot or any gear as described in 4VAC20-460-25, in any tidal waters of Virginia from October 16, 2024 2025, through April 14, 2025 2026.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish any number of fish pots in excess of 10% of the amount allowed by the gear license limit, up to a maximum of 30 fish pots per vessel, when any person on that vessel has set any crab pots.

1. This subsection shall not apply to fish pots set in those Virginia waters located upriver of the following boundary lines:

a. In the James River the boundary shall be a line connecting Hog Point and the downstream point at the mouth of College Creek.

b. In the York River the boundary lines shall be the Route 33 bridges at West Point.

c. In the Rappahannock River the boundary line shall be the Route 360 bridge at Tappahannock.

2. This subsection shall not apply to legally licensed eel pots as described in 4VAC20-500.

3. This subsection shall not apply to fish pots constructed of a mesh less than one-inch square or hexagonal mesh.

4VAC20-270-51. Daily commercial harvester, vessel, and harvest and possession limits.

A. Any barrel used by a harvester to contain or possess any amount of crabs will be equivalent in volume to no more than three bushels of crabs.

B. From July 5, 2024 2025, through October 31, 2024 2025, and May 16, 2025 2026, through July 4, 2025 2026, any commercial fisherman registration licensee legally licensed for any hard crab pot license, as described in 4VAC20-270-50 B, shall be limited to the following maximum daily harvest and possession limits for any of the following hard crab pot license categories:

1. 10 bushels, or three barrels and one bushel, of crabs if licensed for up to 85 crab pots.

2. 14 bushels, or four barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 127 crab pots.

3. 18 bushels, or six barrels, of crabs if licensed for up to 170 crab pots.

4. 29 bushels, or nine barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 255 crab pots.

5. 47 bushels, or 15 barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 425 crab pots.

C. From November 1, 2024 2025, through December 16 20, 2024 2025, and March 17, 2025 2026, through May 15, 2025 2026, any commercial fisherman registration licensee legally licensed for any hard crab pot license, as described in 4VAC20-270-50 B, shall be limited to the following maximum daily harvest and possession limits for any of the following crab pot license categories:

1. Eight bushels, or two barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 85 crab pots.

2. 11 bushels, or three barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 127 crab pots.

3. 14 bushels, or four barrels and two bushels, of crabs if licensed for up to 170 crab pots.

4. 22 bushels, or seven barrels and one bushel, of crabs if licensed for up to 255 crab pots.

5. 36 bushels, or 12 barrels, of crabs if licensed for up to 425 crab pots.

D. When a single harvester or multiple harvesters are on board any vessel, that vessel's daily harvest and possession limit shall be equal to only one daily harvest and possession limit, as described in subsections B and C of this section, and that daily limit shall correspond to the highest harvest and possession limit of only one licensee on board that vessel.

E. When transporting or selling one or more legal crab pot licensee's crab harvest in bushels or barrels, any agent shall possess either the crab pot license of that one or more crab pot licensee or a bill of lading indicating each crab pot licensee's name, address, commercial fisherman registration license number, date, and amount of bushels or barrels of crabs to be sold.

F. If any police officer finds crabs in excess of any lawful daily bushel, barrel, or vessel limit, as described in this section, that excess quantity of crabs shall be returned immediately to the water by the licensee who possesses that excess over lawful daily harvest or possession limit. The refusal to return crabs, in excess of any lawful daily harvest or possession limit, to the water shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter.

G. When any person on board any boat or vessel possesses a crab pot license, it shall be unlawful for that person or any other person aboard that boat or vessel to possess a seafood buyer's boat license and buy any crabs on any day.

4VAC20-270-57. Crab dredge fishery.

In accordance with the provisions of § 28.2-707 of the Code of Virginia, the crab dredging season of December 1, 2024 2025, through March 31, 2025 2026, is closed, and it shall be unlawful to use a dredge for catching crabs from the waters of the Commonwealth during that season.