The Commission, in order to protect or promote the growth of oysters, may (i) close and open any area or restrict the manner or method of taking oysters in any area of the public rocks, grounds, or shoals, (ii) establish seed beds and plant shells and other culch, or (iii) take any other restorative measures. Before closing any such area, an officer shall post notice of the closing for at least 30 days in two or more public places in the district in which the area is located. Such notice requirement shall not apply to those public rocks closed by the Virginia Department of Health or state replenishment programs. In addition, when the Commissioner finds it necessary, the area may be marked by a uniform system of buoys or signs indicating that such area is closed and that oystering by any means is prohibited. Any area which has been closed and reopened at a later time may be closed by the Commission or Commissioner at any time without notice.
Code 1950, § 28-98.1; 1956, c. 313; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-85; 1981, c. 52; 1992, c. 836; 1996, c. 842; 2011, c. 221.
Structure Code of Virginia
Title 28.2 - Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters
§ 28.2-500. Residency and certain oyster licenses
§ 28.2-501. Application for license to take or catch oysters or clams
§ 28.2-502. License fees for taking oysters or clams in tidal waters
§ 28.2-503. License for taking clams with tongs
§ 28.2-504. License fee graduated; penalty
§ 28.2-505. Sale of shells to Commission
§ 28.2-506. Season for taking oysters from public rocks; penalty
§ 28.2-507. Opening and closing public rocks
§ 28.2-508. Prohibited area for patent tongs; penalty
§ 28.2-509. Maximum weight for patent tongs; teeth length; penalty
§ 28.2-510. Buying, selling, or possessing unculled oysters; penalty
§ 28.2-511. Culling oysters; penalty
§ 28.2-512. Interfering with oyster inspections; penalty
§ 28.2-513. Prima facie evidence of culling violation; defense
§ 28.2-514. Possession of shucked oysters; penalty
§ 28.2-515. Dredging or scraping on private ground; permit required
§ 28.2-516. Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat; penalty
§ 28.2-518. Dredging for oysters in James River; penalty
§ 28.2-519. Use of rakes or scrapes on ocean side of Eastern Shore; penalty
§ 28.2-520. Use of hydraulic dredges prohibited; exceptions; penalty
§ 28.2-521. Revocation of license or permit to dredge
§ 28.2-522. Prima facie evidence of violation
§ 28.2-524. Taking oysters or clams in certain areas; limitations
§ 28.2-525. Fishing in Chesapeake Bay immediately west of Tangier Island
§ 28.2-526. Oyster measures; standards; penalty
§ 28.2-527. Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc.; penalty
§ 28.2-528. Revocation of licenses for theft of oysters
§ 28.2-529. Converting shells into lime; penalty
§ 28.2-530. Taking oysters or loading on vessel on Sunday or at night; penalty
§ 28.2-531. Taking clams on Sunday or at night; exception; penalty
§ 28.2-532. Protection of oysters and clams of Virginia; labeling; penalty
§ 28.2-533. Oysters on crab dredging boat; penalty
§ 28.2-534. Possession of oysters while taking clams; penalty
§ 28.2-535. Permit to buy or carry seed oysters from certain grounds; penalty
§ 28.2-536. Taking clams in certain areas; penalty
§ 28.2-537. Restriction on size of clams; penalty
§ 28.2-538. Record of oysters handled; penalty
§ 28.2-541. Oyster resource user fees
§ 28.2-542. Oyster Replenishment Fund
§ 28.2-546. Permit to carry oysters out of state
§ 28.2-547. Authority to inspect oysters when loaded on conveyance
§ 28.2-549. Violations; recovery of oyster resource user fees; penalties
§ 28.2-551. Surveys and reports as conclusive evidence
§ 28.2-551.1. Continuing or reestablishing historic Baylor Survey lines
§ 28.2-552. Resurvey on motion of Commission or on application of citizens
§ 28.2-553. Reestablishment of lines of Baylor survey; procedure; evidence of reestablished lines
§ 28.2-554. Sale of Baylor survey charts and plats
§ 28.2-555. Crossings of Baylor survey
§ 28.2-556. Erosion control devices within the Baylor survey
§ 28.2-557. Unlawful to threaten or hinder surveyor; rights of surveyor; penalty
§ 28.2-558. Placing permanent markers
§ 28.2-559. Removal of oysters planted by mistake
§ 28.2-560. Larceny of oysters and shells; penalty