Section 55. Minimum size limits

A. From March 1 through July 15, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, possess, sell, or offer for sale more than 10 peeler crabs, per United States standard bushel, or 5.0% of peeler crabs in any other container, that measure less than 3-1/4 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes. From July 16 through December 20, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, possess, sell, or offer for sale more than 10 peeler crabs, per United States standard bushel, or 5.0% of peeler crabs in any other container, that measure less than 3-1/2 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes, except as described in subsections B and C of this section.

B. From July 16 through December 20, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, possess, sell, or offer for sale more than 10 peeler crabs, per United States standard bushel, or 5.0% of peeler crabs in any other container, that are harvested from waters on the ocean side of Accomack and Northampton Counties and measure less than 3-1/4 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes, except as described in subsection C of this section.

C. In the enforcement of these peeler crab minimum size limits aboard a vessel, the marine police officer shall select a single container of peeler crabs of his choosing to determine if the contents of that container violate the minimum size and tolerance described in this section. If the officer determines the contents of the container are in violation, then the officer shall return all peeler crabs on board the vessel to the water alive.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch, harvest, possess, sell or offer for sale, or to destroy in any manner, any soft crab that measures less than 3-1/2 inches across the shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 12, Issue 14, eff. February 29, 1996; amended, Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 14, eff. March 5, 2002; Volume 24, Issue 15, eff. March 1, 2008; Volume 24, Issue 19, eff. April 30, 2008; Volume 25, Issue 16, eff. March 26, 2009; Volume 29, Issue 08, eff. November 26, 2012; Volume 30, Issue 07, eff. November 21, 2013; Volume 30, Issue 24, eff. July 1, 2014; Volume 31, Issue 21, eff. July 5, 2015; Volume 32, Issue 24, eff. July 5, 2016.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.