Title of Regulation: 4VAC20-1230. Pertaining to Restrictions on Shellfish (amending 4VAC20-1230-10).

Statutory Authority: §§ 28.2-201 and 28.2-210 of the Code of Virginia.

Effective Dates: January 1, 2011, through January 30, 2011.

Agency Contact: Jane Warren, 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.

Preamble:

This emergency chapter establishes, for the public health, harvest restrictions for shellfish taken from Virginia waters during the months of May through September. In addition, this emergency chapter describes a method of identifying, with the use of tags, where any shellfish were originally harvested from Virginia waters at any time. This emergency chapter is promulgated pursuant to the authority contained in §§ 28.2-201, 28.2-210 and 28.2-801 of the Code of Virginia. This emergency chapter amends and readopts, as amended, previous 4VAC 20-1230, which was adopted September 28, 2010, and made effective January 1, 2011. The effective date of this emergency chapter is January 1, 2011.

Summary:

This amendment clarifies that identification of the original harvest area of any shellfish, through use of tags, pertains to any time during the year.

4VAC20-1230-10. Purpose.

The purpose of this emergency chapter is to establish a method of identifying the original Virginia harvest area of any shellfish, at any time of the year. In addition, harvest times, and handling procedures for shellfish harvested during the months of May through September, in order to protect the health of the public, are described herein.