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REGULATION INDEX

IMPORTANT: The following table contains links to the full text of the current regulations established by the VMRC. The texts of our regulations have been provided for reference only; summaries of current restrictions have also been posted and are much easier to understand than the underlying regulations. The regulation summaries are available at thefollowing links:

Saltwater Recreational Hook & Line Fishing
Saltwater Recreational Hook & Line Fishing Licensing Requirements
Recreational Crabbing & Non-hook & line Fishing
Spearfishing Restrictions
Commercial & Personal Use Gillnetting
Commercial Fishing 
Commercial Crabbing
MRC Licenses
Commercial Permits

The regulation texts provided below are not legal copies of the regulations. Please request signed copies from the VMRC.  If you would like to know more about the regulatory process or get to links leading to statutes related to the Commission, click here.

Last Update 10/1/2008

 

 

CATEGORY

 

 

 

All

REGULATION #

TITLE

EFFECTIVE

 

4 VAC 20-60-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Display of License to Catch Finfish or Crabs

08/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-610-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Commercial Fishing and Mandatory Harvest Reporting

03/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-670-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Recreational Gear Licenses

04/30/08

 

4 VAC 20-730-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Nonresident Harvesters License Fee

12/01/05

 

4 VAC 20-754-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Importation of Fish, Shellfish or Crustacea

11/27/02

 

4 VAC 20-920-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Landing Licenses

12/01/05
  4 VAC 20-1045-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Establishment of Restricted Areas

10/01/04

  4 VAC 20-1050-10 ET SEQ.

Restricted area at Northrup Grumman/ Newport News Shipbuilding Company. 

03/26/03

  4 VAC 20-1060-10 ET SEQ.

Restricted area at Dominion Power/Nuclear Power Station.

06/25/03

  4 VAC 20-1065-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Establishment of Restricted Area - Plum Tree Island Wildlife Refuge Range

02/01/05

  4 VAC 20-1090-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Licensing Requirements and License Fees

06/01/08

  4 VAC 20-1150-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Charter Boat and Head Boat Fisheries

08/01/08

Clam

REGULATION #

TITLE

EFFECTIVE

 

4 VAC 20-70-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Harvesting of Clams

2/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-100-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Taking of Clams on Seaside of Eastern Shore

08/01/95 Accomack

 

4 VAC 20-230-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Harvesting of Surf Clams

12/01/05

 

4 VAC 20-560-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the York River, Poquoson River and Back River Shellfish Management Areas and the James River Broodstock Management Area

04/28/06

 

4 VAC 20-566-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Hampton Roads Shellfish Relay Area 08/01/06

 

4 VAC 20-590-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Taking of Hard Clams

04/14/95

Crab

REGULATION #

TITLE

EFFECTIVE

 

4 VAC 20-30-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Licensing of Crab Traps and Pounds

08/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-40-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Crab Catch Limits

04/30/08

 

4 VAC 20-90-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Dredging for Crabs

04/30/08

 

4 VAC 20-240-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Tangier Island Crab Scrape Sanctuary

05/01/97

 

4 VAC 20-270-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Crabbing

06/01/08


4 VAC 20-300-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Crab Catch Limits

03/30/07

 

4 VAC 20-370-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Culling of Crabs

05/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-460-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Use of Crab Traps and Pounds

03/02/95

 

4 VAC 20-700-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Crab Pots

06/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-750-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Crab Dredge License Sales

04/30/08

 

4 VAC 20-752-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Blue Crab Sanctuaries

04/30/08

 

4 VAC 20-880-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Hard Crab Pot Limits

06/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-1040-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Crabbing Licenses

02/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-1140-10 ET SEQ.

Prohibition of Crab Dredging in Virginia Waters

04/30/08

Finfish

REGULATION #

TITLE

EFFECTIVE

 

4 VAC 20-10-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Fishing in Broad & Linkhorn Bays

08/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-20-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Licensing of Fixed Fishing Devices

11/01/07


4 VAC 20-25-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Pound Net Siting Public Interest Review

12/01/04

 

4 VAC 20-80-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Setting of Fishing Devices Proximate to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

07/29/05

 

4 VAC 20-140-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Identification and Location of Fish Pots

08/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-170-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Removal of Nets from Fixed Fishing Devices

05/01/05

 

4 VAC 20-190-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Measuring Mesh Size of Menhaden Nets

08/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-220-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Taking of Finfish by Gill Nets

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-252-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Taking of Striped Bass

01/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-280-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Speckled Trout and Red Drum

01/01/03

 

4 VAC 20-320-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Taking of Black Drum

02/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-350-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Prohibiting the Sale of Billfish

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-380-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Grey Trout (Weakfish)

10/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-420-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Use of Trawls in the Territorial Sea

04/13/95

 

4 VAC 20-430-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Marking and Minimum Mesh Size of Gill Nets

03/30/07

 

4 VAC 20-450-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Taking of Bluefish

06/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-470-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Hampton Roads Management Area

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-480-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Eastern Shore Bayside Management Areas

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-490-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Sharks

05/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-500-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Catching of Eels

03/01/00

 

4 VAC 20-510-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Amberjack and Cobia

02/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-530-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to American Shad

02/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-540-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Spanish and King Mackerel

01/01/01

 

4 VAC 20-550-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Removal of Gill Nets and Other Non-Fixed Finfishing Gear

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-570-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Use of Firearms to Take Fish

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-580-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Alteration of Finfish

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-600-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Pound Net License Sales

06/26/97

 

4 VAC 20-620-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Summer Flounder

10/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-680-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Gill Nets

04/14/95

 

4 VAC 20-740-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Snagging of Fish

04/12/95

Emergency
Regulation

4 VAC 20-751-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Setting and Mesh Size of Gill Nets

09/29/08

 

4 VAC 20-755-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Artificial Reefs

09/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-910-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Scup (Porgy)

08/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-920-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Landing Licenses 12/01/04

 

4 VAC 20-950-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Black Sea Bass

03/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-960-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Tautog

01/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-970-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Spadefish

01/01/02

 

4 VAC 20-995-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Commercial Hook-and-Line Fishing

03/01/01

 

4 VAC 20-1070-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Haul Seines

08/01/03

 

4 VAC 20-1080-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Monkfish (Goosefish)

05/01/05

 

4 VAC 20-1110-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Sheepshead

05/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-1120-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Tilefish and Groupers

06/28/07

       

Habitat

REGULATION #

TITLE

EFFECTIVE

    Wetlands Guidelines 09/01/93

 

4 VAC 20-120-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Promulgation of a Public Notice on Applications to Encroach In, On, or Over Subaqueous Lands of the Commonwealth

03/01/83

  4 VAC 20-333-10 ET SEQ. Virginia General Permit for Projects undertaken by the Virginia Department of Transportation In, On or Over State-Owned Subaqueous Lands Anywhere Within the Commonwealth. 07/06/99

 

4 VAC 20-335-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to On-Bottom Shellfish Aquaculture Activities

01/01/98

 

4 VAC 20-336-10 ET SEQ.

General Permit for Noncommercial Riparian Shellfish Growing (I.E. "Gardening") Activities

01/01/98

  4 VAC 20-337-10 ET SEQ Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Transplantation Guidelines 11/01/00

 

4 VAC 20-340-10 ET SEQ.

Public Participation Guidelines

06/30/93

 

4 VAC 20-345-10 ET SEQ.

General Wetlands Permit for Emergency Situations

03/01/98

 

4 VAC 20-360-10 ET SEQ.

Criteria for the Siting of Marinas or Community Facilities for Boat Mooring

06/07/88

 

4 VAC 20-390-10 ET SEQ.

Wetlands Mitigation-Compensation Policy

06/06/89

 


Guidelines for the Establishment, Use and Operation of Tidal Wetland Mitigation Banks in Virginia

01/01/98

  4 VAC 20-398-10 ET SEQ.
BALLAST WATER DISCHARGE REPORTING 11/01/01

 

4 VAC 20-400-10 ET SEQ.

Criteria for the Placement of Sandy Dredged Material along Beaches in the Commonwealth

11/01/88

 

4 VAC 20-440-10 ET SEQ.

Coastal Primary Sand Dune / Reaches Guidelines: Barrier Island Policy

10/24/90

    Coastal Primary Sand Dunes Beaches  Guidelines 09/01/93

 

4 VAC 20-1030-10 ET SEQ.

Management Plan for the Ungranted State Lands in Accomack and Northampton Counties

03/15/99

    Subaqueous Guidelines 11/05
 

RESCINDED JULY 6, 2006

Private Pier Guidance Criteria 11/05
    Rent and Royalty Schedule 12/01/05
       

Oyster

REGULATION #

TITLE

EFFECTIVE

 

4 VAC 20-200-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Requirements for Reporting Oyster Transactions and Payment of Taxes

02/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-260-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Designation of Seed Areas and Clean Cull Areas

10/01/07

Emergency
Regulation
4 VAC 20-260-10 ET SEQ Pertaining to Designation of Seed Areas and Clean Cull Areas 10/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-290-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Marking of Leased Oyster Planting Ground

08/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-650-10 ET SEQ.

Establishment of Oyster Sanctuary Areas

10/01/07

4 VAC 20-720-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Restrictions on Oyster Harvest

10/01/08

       

Shellfish Mix

REGULATION #

TITLE

EFFECTIVE

 

4 VAC 20-110-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Lobsters

12/01/05

 

4 VAC 20-130-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Prohibited Areas for the Use of Patent Tongs

08/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-150-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Dredging of Conchs (Also known as Whelks) 01/01/08

 

4 VAC 20-310-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Relaying of Shellfish

03/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-330-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Taking of Shellfish from Condemned Areas

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-410-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Use of Patent Tongs

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-520-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to the Use of Patent Tongs

07/01/95

 

4 VAC 20-890-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Channeled Whelk

07/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-900-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Horseshoe Crab

07/01/07

 

4 VAC 20-980-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to On-Shore Loading and Unloading of Shellfish from Condemned Areas

05/30/97

 

4 VAC 20-1010-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Dredging in Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

01/30/98

 

4 VAC 20-1020-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Bay Scallops

02/01/99

 

4 VAC 20-1100-10 ET SEQ.

Pertaining to Shellfish Handling

07/01/06

 

4 VAC 20-1130-10 ET SEQ.

General Permit #4 for Temporary Protective Enclosures for Shellfish

12/01/07


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