Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-1230. Pertaining to Restrictions on Shellfish (amending 4VAC20-1230-20, 4VAC20-1230-30).

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

Effective Date: October 1, 2014.

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

The amendments establish that (i) beginning December 1, 2014, it shall be unlawful for any Marine Resources Commission employee or representative to issue any shellfish license, shellfish permit, or oyster resource user fee to any person, unless that person has successfully completed the Shellfish Harvest Safety Training Certification Course and (ii) it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest or attempt to harvest shellfish unless that person has successfully completed the Shellfish Harvest Safety Training Certification Course.

4VAC20-1230-20. Definitions.

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

"Clam" means any shellfish of the species Mercenaria mercenaria and genera Noetia and Anadera Anadara.

"Container" means any bag, box, sack, tote, or other receptacle that contains shellfish to be held, in any type of conveyance, for transport from the harvest area to the landing site and from the landing site to the point of sale or other use.

"Conveyance" means any form of transport, such as a boat, truck, or other vehicle, or trailer that is used to transport shellfish from the harvest area to the landing site or from the landing site to a licensed buyer or other use.

"Direct marketing" means any shellfish or shellstock that is landed and sold without shucking or postharvest processing.

"Harvest" means the act of removing any shellfish or shellstock from a designated harvest area and placing that shellfish or shellstock in a container or on or in a conveyance.

"Harvest time" means the time from initial harvest to when temperature control of that harvest is required. Harvest time begins once the first harvested shellstock is no longer submerged and extends to the time that any harvested shellstock is placed in Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation-approved temperature controlled storage.

"Layer" means a single thickness or coating spread out and covering an entire surface.

"Mechanical refrigeration" means storage in a container that is approved by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation and capable of cooling to and maintaining an ambient temperature of 45°F or less.

"Oysters" "Oyster" means any shellfish of the species Crassostrea virginica that is 2-1/2 inches or greater in shell length.

"Restricted-use shellstock" means shellstock or shellfish harvested from approved shellfish growing areas that shall not be sold for raw consumption or directly marketed for raw consumption.

"Restricted-use shellstock tag" means a Virginia Marine Resources Commission-issued green tag that shall only be used by a licensed buyer who has a current certificate of inspection as a shucker packer for shellstock or shellfish harvested from a single harvest area in any one day. Use of any such tag indicates that shellstock is intended for further processing prior to distribution to retail or food service.

"Seed clams" means any shellfish of the species Mercenaria mercenaria that is less than 30 mm in shell length and more than six months from harvest for human consumption.

"Seed oysters" oyster" means any shellfish of the species Crassostrea virginica that is less than 2-1/2 inches in shell length and more than six months from harvest for human consumption oyster taken by any person from natural beds, rocks, or shoals that is more than 30 days from harvest for human consumption.

"Shading" means to shelter by intercepting the direct rays of the sun to protect the shellfish from heat using a tarp or cover.

"Shellfish" or "shellstock" means all species of bivalve molluscan shellfish.

"Shucker packer" means a person who shucks and packs shellfish under a certificate of inspection issued by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation.

"VDH-approved temperature controlled storage" means a container or conveyance that is equipped with mechanical refrigeration capable of maintaining 45°F or less or is continuously and completely covering shellfish with a layer of ice, according to procedures approved by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation.

4VAC20-1230-30. Public health and warm water harvest restrictions for shellfish.

A. Beginning December 1, 2014, it shall be unlawful for any commission employee or representative to issue any shellfish license, shellfish permit, or oyster resource user fee to any person unless that person has successfully completed the Shellfish Harvest Safety Training Certification Course. Beginning January 1, 2015, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest or attempt to harvest shellfish unless that person has successfully completed the Shellfish Harvest Safety Training Certification Course. The Shellfish Harvest Safety Training Certification shall be valid from the date of issuance through the next two calendar years.

A. B. No provisions in this chapter shall apply to seed clams or seed oysters.

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

C. D. From May 1 through September 30, any vessel used for the harvest of shellfish, from either public or private grounds, shall provide shading over the area that serves as storage for the shellfish when the shellfish are on board that vessel. All shellfish in the vessel shall be offloaded every day. Shading shall not be required for vessels transporting clam seed or seed oysters for replanting.

D. E. From May 1 through September 30, all shellfish shall be shaded during land-based deliveries.

E. F. From June 1 through August 31, it shall be unlawful for any person to leave the dock or shore, prior to one hour before sunrise, to harvest or attempt to harvest shellfish from private grounds.