Except as provided in § 28.2-409 or as otherwise provided by regulation, it is unlawful for any person to take or catch with a purse net in the waters of the Commonwealth, or waters within its jurisdiction, menhaden between the Saturday following the third Friday in November and the Sunday preceding the first Monday in May. However, in the waters east of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel within the three-mile limit of the Virginia shoreline such prohibition shall be between the Friday before Christmas and the Sunday preceding the first Monday in May. It is also unlawful for any person to use any purse net or other net having a stretched mesh of less than one and three quarters inches. Any person violating any of the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Code 1950, §§ 28-64, 28-67; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-65; 1966, c. 684; 1972, c. 424; 1976, c. 384; 1978, c. 347; 1982, c. 461; 1988, c. 710; 1992, c. 836; 2020, cc. 201, 356.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 28.2 - Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters
Chapter 4 - Use of Purse Nets for Taking Menhaden
§ 28.2-400. Application for license for resident or nonresident to catch menhaden
§ 28.2-400.1. Criteria for qualifying for a limited entry purse seine menhaden bait license
§ 28.2-402. License fee to take menhaden with purse nets
§ 28.2-404. Appeals from actions of Commissioner
§ 28.2-405. Carrying patent tongs, etc., while fishing for menhaden; penalty
§ 28.2-407. Forfeiture of fishing gear
§ 28.2-408. Food fish not to be taken, bought, or sold; percentage allowable; penalty
§ 28.2-409. Menhaden fishing prohibited in certain areas; exception
§ 28.2-410. Closed season for menhaden fishing; forbidden nets; penalty