TITLE 4. CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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: 4VAC20-720. Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest (amending 4VAC20-720-40).
Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Effective Date: February 1, 2016.
Agency Contact: Jennifer Farmer, Regulatory Coordinator, Marine Resources Commission, 2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor, Newport News, VA 23607, telephone (757) 247-2248 or email jennifer.farmer@mrc.virginia.gov.
Summary:
The amendment changes the dates of part of the open oyster harvest season for the James River Area and the Thomas Rock Area (James River) from March 1, 2016, through March 31, 2016, to January 1, 2016, through January 31, 2016.
4VAC20-720-40. Open oyster harvest season and areas.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest oysters from public and unassigned grounds outside of the seasons and areas set forth in this section.
B. It shall be unlawful to harvest clean cull oysters from the public oyster grounds and unassigned grounds except during the lawful seasons and from the lawful areas as described in the following subdivisions of this subsection.
1. James River Seed Area, including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area: October 1, 2015, through April 30, 2016.
2. Milford Haven: December 1, 2015, through February 29, 2016.
3. Rappahannock River Area 9: November 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
4. Little Wicomico River: October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
5. Coan River: October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
6. Yeocomico River: October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
7. Nomini Creek: October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
8. Mobjack Bay Area: January 1, 2016, through January 31, 2016.
9. Rappahannock River Rotation Area 5: October 1, 2015, through November 30, 2015.
10. Rappahannock River Rotation Area 3: November 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.
11. Great Wicomico River Area: December 1, 2015, through January 31, 2016.
12. Upper Chesapeake Bay - Blackberry Hangs Area: December 1, 2015, through January 31, 2016.
13. James River Area and the Thomas Rock Area (James River): November 1 2015, through December 31, 2015, and March January 1, 2016, through March January 31, 2016.
14. Pocomoke and Tangier Sounds Rotation Area 1: December 1, 2015, through February 29, 2016.
15. Pocomoke Sound Area - Public Ground 10: November 2, 2015, through November 13, 2015.
16. Pocomoke Sound Area - Public Ground 9: November 16, 2015, through November 27, 2015.
17. Deep Rock Area: December 1, 2015, through February 29, 2016.
18. Seaside of the Eastern Shore (for clean cull oysters only): November 1, 2015, through March 31, 2016.
C. It shall be unlawful to harvest seed oysters from the public oyster grounds or unassigned grounds, except during the lawful seasons. The harvest of seed oysters from the lawful areas is described in the following subdivisions of this subsection.
1. James River Seed Area: October 1, 2015, through May 31, 2016.
2. Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area: October 1, 2015, through May 31, 2016.
VA.R. Doc. No. R16-4613; Filed January 27, 2016, 3:25 p.m.