All the beds of the bays, rivers, creeks and the shores of the sea within the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, not conveyed by special grant or compact according to law, shall remain the property of the Commonwealth and may be used as a common by all the people of the Commonwealth for the purpose of fishing, fowling, hunting, and taking and catching oysters and other shellfish. No grant shall be issued by the Librarian of Virginia to pass any estate or interest of the Commonwealth in any natural oyster bed, rock, or shoal, whether or not it ebbs bare.
Code 1950, § 62-1; 1960, c. 533; 1968, c. 659, § 62.1-1; 1992, c. 836; 1995, c. 850; 1998, c. 427.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 28.2 - Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters
§ 28.2-1200. Ungranted beds of bays, rivers, creeks and shores of the sea to remain in common
§ 28.2-1200.1. Conveyance of state-owned bottomlands
§ 28.2-1201. Ungranted islands which rise from lands which are property of the Commonwealth
§ 28.2-1202. Rights of owners to extend to mean low-water mark
§ 28.2-1203. Unlawful use of subaqueous beds; penalty
§ 28.2-1204. Authority of Commission over submerged lands
§ 28.2-1204.1. Submerged aquatic vegetation
§ 28.2-1204.2. Marine Habitat and Waterways Improvement Fund established
§ 28.2-1205. Permits for the use of state-owned bottomlands
§ 28.2-1205.1. Coordinated review of water resources projects
§ 28.2-1207. Authority to approve permits for encroachment on subaqueous beds; notice
§ 28.2-1208. Granting easements in, permitting the use of, or leasing the beds of certain waters
§ 28.2-1210. Removal of obstructions or hazardous property from state waters; penalty
§ 28.2-1211. Injunction against violation of § 28.2-1203
§ 28.2-1212. Monitoring, inspections, compliance and restoration