A. It is unlawful to set or fish any net or nets across any river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which are longer than one-fourth the width of the body of water from mean low water to mean low water at the point where the net or nets are set or fished.
B. It is unlawful to set or fish any net, other than a menhaden net, in any portion of a marked channel of a river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which has navigation aids installed or approved by any agency of government. However, the prohibitions and restrictions on setting nets contained in this subsection shall not apply to any net set on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton. The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate regulations governing the setting of any net on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton.
C. It shall be unlawful to set or fish any net which is a hazard to navigation.
D. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.
Code 1950, § 28-47; 1950, p. 981; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-53; 1968, c. 748; 1990, c. 212; 1991, c. 683; 1992, c. 836.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 28.2 - Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters
§ 28.2-300. License application to fish with certain nets
§ 28.2-301. License fee for fishing in tidal waters
§ 28.2-302. Commercial fishing pier; license fee; penalty
§ 28.2-302.1. Recreational license required
§ 28.2-302.1:1. Fisherman Identification Program
§ 28.2-302.2. Recreational license fee; cooperative program
§ 28.2-302.2:1. Special combined individual sportfishing licenses
§ 28.2-302.3. Virginia Saltwater Recreational Fishing Development Fund established
§ 28.2-302.4. Virginia Recreational Fishing Advisory Board established
§ 28.2-302.5. Exemptions to saltwater recreational fishing license
§ 28.2-302.6. Temporary license
§ 28.2-302.7. Recreational boat; reporting of catch
§ 28.2-302.7:1. Reissuance of licenses for recreational boats
§ 28.2-302.8. Headboat or charterboat; rental boats
§ 28.2-302.9. Commercial fishing pier
§ 28.2-302.10:1. Lifetime saltwater recreational fishing licenses for residents and nonresidents
§ 28.2-303. Taking and sale of sturgeon prohibited; penalty
§ 28.2-305. Size of mesh and length and depth of certain nets; penalty
§ 28.2-306. Use of certain fishing devices in certain waters; penalty
§ 28.2-307. Length of fixed fishing device; gill nets; penalty
§ 28.2-308. Setting of gill nets in oceanfront; penalty
§ 28.2-310. Trotline prohibited on ocean side of Eastern Shore; penalty
§ 28.2-311. Chickahominy River in Charles City; penalty
§ 28.2-312. Rappahannock River and certain of its tributaries; penalty
§ 28.2-313. Killing fish by means of explosives, drugs, or poisons; possession; penalty
§ 28.2-314. Trawl nets and drag nets prohibited; sale of fish; penalty
§ 28.2-315. Fishing with trawl net within three-mile limit; license fee
§ 28.2-316. Trawling boat not granted license for other fishing device; penalty
§ 28.2-317. Prima facie evidence of violation; penalty