4VAC20-1360-40. Prohibitions.
A. It shall be unlawful for any individual to harvest any fish immobilized by commercial electrofishing gear without possessing a Commercial Fisherman Registration License and Fish Dip Net License or a Commercial Electrofishing License.
B. It shall be unlawful for any individual in the commercial electrofishing fishery to:
1. Take, harvest, or possess any species other than blue catfish or flathead catfish.
2. Take, harvest, or possess any blue catfish greater than 25 inches in total length, except that up to 12 blue catfish per trip may be between 25 and 28 inches in total length.
C. It shall be unlawful for any individual licensed under the provisions of 4VAC20-1360-30 to:
1. Fail to be onboard the electrofishing vessel when conducting commercial electrofishing.
2. Conduct commercial electrofishing from October 16 through April 30.
3. Conduct commercial electrofishing between 11:59 a.m. Friday and 12:01 a.m. Monday.
4. Conduct commercial electrofishing within 100 yards of any marked commercial fishing gear.
5. Conduct commercial electrofishing within the week prior to or during any local sampling conducted by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The dates and locations of such sampling will be provided to licensees.
6. Fail to contact the Virginia Marine Resources Commission Operations Station toll free line at 1‑800‑541‑4646 when intending to conduct commercial electrofishing within the following 24-hour period to report the specific location and estimated time of fishing.
7. Conduct commercial electrofishing in Virginia waters except in the harvest area specified on the individual's Commercial Electrofishing License.
8. Conduct commercial electrofishing within 100 yards of any public boat ramp, fishing pier, or where people are in the water, including such activities as swimming and diving.
Statutory Authority
§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 36, Issue 10, eff. January 1, 2020.