REGULATION: ESTABLISHES A HAMPTON ROADS MANAGEMENT AREA AND PROHIBITS THE USE OF GILL NETS

VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
"ESTABLISHES A HAMPTON ROADS MANAGEMENT AREA AND PROHIBITS THE USE OF GILL NETS"
REGULATION 4 VAC 20-470-10 ET SEQ.

PREAMBLE

This regulation establishes a Hampton Roads Management Area and prohibits the use of gill nets in that area between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from the Friday preceding Memorial Day through Labor Day.

This regulation is promulgated pursuant to authority contained in §28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia. This regulation amends and re-adopts previous Regulation 450-01-0061, which was adopted July 24, 1990 and effective August 1, 1990. The effective date of this regulation is July 1, 1995.

The purpose of this chapter is to reduce conflict between charter boats, recreational fishermen and gill net fishermen in the Hampton Roads area.

The Hampton Roads Management Area is established as that area defined as follows:

Beginning at the mean low water line of Newport News Point at its intersection with the northbound lanes of I-664; thence following the mean low water line of Hampton Roads and its tributaries and Chesapeake Bay in an easterly direction to the Fort Monroe Officers' Club Pier; thence in an easterly direction to the white and orange buoy "G"; thence in an easterly direction to Thimble Shoal Light; thence in a southerly direction to buoy G "17"; thence in a southwesterly direction to the trestle of the westbound lanes of I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel at its intersection with the south island; thence following the westbound lanes of Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel to its intersection at the mean low water line of Willoughby Spit; thence following the mean low water line of Willoughby Spit in a southerly direction to the flashing light "11"; thence in a southwesterly direction approximately 2800 feet to the bulkhead corner of the U. S. Naval Reservation Heliport; thence following the mean low water line of Hampton Roads in a westerly and southerly direction to a point opposite of the grain elevator south of Pier A of the municipal terminal; thence in a westerly direction to buoy G "11"; thence in a westerly direction to buoy R "12"; thence in a southwesterly direction to the mean low water line at the northeastern corner of Craney Island Disposal Area; thence in a westerly direction to the intersection of the northbound lanes of I-664 and the south island of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel; thence in a northwesterly direction along the northbound lanes of I-664 to its intersection with the mean low water line at Newport News Point, being the point of beginning.

From the Friday immediately preceding Memorial Day to Labor Day, both days inclusive, and during the hours of 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., it shall be unlawful for any person to place, set, or fish any gill net, including licensed staked gill nets within the Hampton Roads Management Area.

As set forth in § 28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

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