Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-140. Pertaining to Identification of Crab Pots, Peeler Pots and Fish Pots (amending 4VAC20-140-25).

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

Effective Date: October 1, 2011.

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

Summary:

This amendment allows licensed Maryland commercial crab harvesters who possess Virginia crab gear licenses to retain Maryland identification on crab pot and peeler pot buoys and stakes while tending and fishing crab pots and peeler pots in Virginia waters.

4VAC20-140-25. Identification of crab pots and peeler pots.

A. Any person placing, setting, or fishing crab pots in Virginia waters, for which a commercial license is prescribed by law, shall display his Marine Resources Commission identification number, preceded by the letter "C," on each floating buoy or stake attached to each such crab pot, in a legible and visible manner.

B. Any person placing, setting, or fishing peeler pots in Virginia waters, for which a commercial license is prescribed by law, shall display his Marine Resources Commission identification number, preceded by the letter "P," on each floating buoy or stake attached to each such peeler pot, in a legible and visible manner.

C. Except as provided in subsection D of this section, it shall be unlawful for any person to place numbers or letters on any crab pot or peeler pot buoy or stake that is in addition to the identification requirement described in subsection A or B of this section.

D. Any person who is legally licensed to crab pot or peeler pot in North Carolina or the Potomac River Maryland waters may also display identification required by those jurisdictions on the buoys or stakes attached to those crab pots or peeler pots while that person is placing, setting, or fishing those crab pots or peeler pots in Virginia waters.

E. Any identification shall be legally assigned or registered to that person, as described in subsection D of this section.