4VAC20-650-30: Closure of sanctuary areas

A. All Oyster Sanctuary Areas shall be closed to the harvest of oysters, except that Seaside of the Eastern Shore Oyster Sanctuary Areas shall be closed to the harvest of all shellfish. Any person harvesting oysters or shellfish from the specified areas shall be guilty of a violation of this chapter.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess any hand scrape, dredge, or patent tong gear that could be used to harvest shellfish on public or unassigned oyster grounds within 100 feet of any oyster sanctuary area, and such possession shall be considered as prima facie evidence of a violation of this chapter.