Section 85. James River seed quota and monitoring

A. An oyster seed harvest quota of 120,000 bushels of seed is established for the James River Seed Area, including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area. Once it has been projected and announced that the quota of seed has been attained, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest seed oysters from these areas.

B. Of the 120,000-bushel seed quota described in subsection A of this section no more than 40,000 bushels of this quota may be harvested from October 1 through December 31. However, if it is projected and announced that 40,000 bushels of seed have been harvested before December 31, it shall be unlawful for any person to harvest seed oysters from that date forward until January 1.

C. Any person harvesting or landing oyster seed from the James River Seed Area, including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area, shall report monthly on forms provided by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission all harvest of seed oysters. Reporting requirements shall consist of that person's Commercial Fisherman Registration License number, daily number of bushels of seed oysters harvested, harvest rock location, planting location (any lease numbers), and buyer name.

D. It shall be unlawful for any person harvesting seed oysters from the James River Seed Area, including the Deep Water Shoal State Replenishment Seed Area, to fail to contact the Virginia Marine Resources Commission Interactive-Voice-Response (IVR) System within 24 hours of harvest or landing and provide that person's name, Commercial Fisherman Registration License number, time, date, daily number of bushels of seed oysters harvested, harvest rock location, planting location (any lease numbers), and buyer name.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 28, Issue 05, eff. November 1, 2011; amended, Volume 29, Issue 03, eff. October 1, 2012.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.