TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
Final Regulation
REGISTRAR'S NOTICE: The Marine Resources Commission is claiming an exemption from the Administrative Process Act in accordance with § 2.2-4006 A 11 of the Code of Virginia; however, the commission is required to publish the full text of final regulations.
Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-490. Pertaining to Sharks (amending 4VAC20-490-42).
Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Effective Date: August 1, 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 amendment clarifies language regarding the prohibition from November through March of overnight soaks in specified areas in Virginia coastal waters for spiny dogfish gill net gear with a mesh size of 5.25 inches to 10 inches.
4VAC20-490-42. Spiny dogfish commercial quota and harvest limitations.
A. The fishing year for spiny dogfish shall be from May 1 of the current calendar year through April 30 of the following calendar year. For the fishing year, the commercial spiny dogfish landings quota shall be limited to annual quota except as specified in subsection B of this section.
B. If a quota transfer occurs between Virginia and another state or region participating in the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for spiny dogfish, Virginia's annual quota for the fishing year shall be limited to the annual quota amount as adjusted for transfers.
C. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, harvest, or possess aboard any vessel or to land in Virginia any spiny dogfish harvested from federal waters for commercial purposes after it has been announced that the federal quota for spiny dogfish has been taken.
D. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, harvest, or possess aboard any vessel or to land in Virginia more than 7,500 pounds of spiny dogfish per day for commercial purposes.
E. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, harvest, or possess aboard any vessel or to land in Virginia any spiny dogfish for commercial purposes after the annual quota specified in subsections A and B of this section has been landed and announced as such.
F. Any spiny dogfish harvested from state waters or federal waters for commercial purposes shall only be sold to a federally permitted dealer.
G. It shall be unlawful for any buyer of seafood to receive any spiny dogfish after any commercial harvest or annual quota described in this section has been landed and announced as such.
H. It shall be unlawful for any person fishing for spiny dogfish with possessing a Virginia Spiny Dogfish Permit to leave any gill net gear with a mesh size equal to or greater than 5.25 inches and less than 10 inches in the Delaware and Maryland Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area or the Virginia Atlantic Sturgeon Bycatch Reduction Area between 8 p.m. through 5 a.m. the following day from November 1 through March 31.
VA.R. Doc. No. R26-8354; Filed July 24, 2025