4VAC20-720-60: Day and time limit

A. It shall be unlawful to take, catch, or possess oysters on Saturday and Sunday from the public oyster grounds or unassigned grounds in the waters of the Commonwealth of Virginia for commercial purposes, except that this provision shall not apply to any person harvesting no more than one bushel per day by hand or ordinary tong for household use only during the season when the public oyster grounds or unassigned grounds are legally open for harvest.

B. It shall be unlawful to do any of the following from the harvest areas described in Table 1 or Table 2 of 4VAC20-720-40:

1. Harvest or attempt to harvest oysters prior to sunrise or after sunset.

2. For any vessel to leave the dock until one hour before sunrise or return to the dock after sunset if the vessel has an oyster dredge or hand scrape aboard.

3. From October 1 through October 31, for any person to harvest or attempt to harvest clean cull oysters after 11 a.m.

4. Beginning November 1, for any person to harvest or attempt to harvest clean cull oysters after noon with patent tongs, hand scrapes, or oyster dredges.

5. For any person to harvest or attempt to harvest oysters after 2 p.m. with hand tongs.