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- Subject Index: Since 1995
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Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
1995 SESSION
LD3760127Patrons--Behm, Christian, Cooper, Copeland, Crittenden, Darner, Jones, J.C. and Spruill; Senators: Andrews and Maxwell
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 28.2-708 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 28.2-708. Limitations on sizes of crabs to be taken; inspection of catch; exemption; penalty.
A. It is unlawful for any person to catch, take or have in his possession
more than ten hard crabs per United States standard bushel or thirty-five
hard crabs per barrel, which measure less than five inches across the
shell from tip to tip of the longest spikes, or to destroy them in any
manner.measure as follows:
1. In the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries:
a. Female crabs less than two and three-sixteenths inches from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the carapace; and
b. Male crabs less than two and five-sixteenths inches from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the carapace; and
2. In all other waters, crabs less than two and three-sixteenths inches from the tip of the rostrum to the posterior edge of the carapace.
Those undersized crabs in excess of the allowance level shall be immediately
returned to the water alive. Adult female crabs, peeler
Peeler crabs and soft crabs are exempt from these
limitations.
B. Any officer may grade or cull any number of barrels, baskets or containers of crabs in any person's possession.
If the officer finds more than ten undersize hard crabs per United States standard bushel or thirty-five per barrel, he shall seize the entire quantity of crabs in or from each such container, and the person who possessed the crabs shall immediately return them to the water. Refusal to return the crabs to the water is a separate offense from any other violation.
Crabs which have been purchased by and are in the possession of a buyer
and crabs which have been transported at least five miles from the nearest
salt water on land by a licensed buyer are exempt from this
requirement.
D C. The Commission may change such size restrictions
for a period not to exceed sixty days to respond to significant ecological
changes.
E D. A violation of this section is a Class
3 2 misdemeanor.