Section 20. Marking procedures for drift and anchored gill nets

Except as provided in 4VAC20-430-40, 4VAC20-430-45, and 4VAC20-430-50, it shall be unlawful for any person to place, set or fish any gill net, except when licensed as a fixed fishing device, that is not marked in the following manner:

1. One end of each gill net shall be marked by a flag of square dimensions, which shall measure at least 144 square inches.

2. The end of each gill net opposite the square flag marker shall be marked by either a triangular flag of at least 144 square inches or a floating ball of at least 50 inches circumference.

3. Each flag described in subdivisions 1 and 2 of this section shall be supported on a staff sufficient to maintain the bottom of the flag at least three feet above the surface of the water.

4. The end-marker flags on the same net or flag and floating ball on the same net shall be of identical color.

5. All flag staffs shall be marked with two stripes of two-inch wide reflective material that shall be visible from all sides; all end-marker floating balls shall be marked on three sides with patches of approximately two-inch by two-inch reflective material that shall be visible from all sides above the water line.

Historical Notes

Derived from VR450-01-0057 § 2, eff. May 1, 1990; amended, Volume 07, Issue 10, eff. January 23, 1991; Volume 08, Issue 15, eff. February 1, 1992; Volume 11, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 19, Issue 03, eff. October 1, 2002; Volume 23, Issue 17, eff. March 30, 2007.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.