Virginia Law

ARTICLE I

The purpose of this compact is to promote the better utilization of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous of the Atlantic seaboard by the development of a joint program for the promotion and protection of such fisheries, and by the prevention of the physical waste of the fisheries from any cause. It is not the purpose of this compact to authorize the states joining herein to limit the production of fish or fish products for the purpose of establishing or fixing the price thereof, or creating and perpetuating monopoly.

ARTICLE II

This agreement shall become operative immediately as to those states executing it whenever any two or more of the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida have executed it in the form that is in accordance with the laws of the executing state and the Congress has given its consent. Any state contiguous with any of the aforementioned states and riparian upon waters frequented by anadromous fish, flowing into waters under the jurisdiction of any of the aforementioned states, may become a party hereto as hereinafter provided.

ARTICLE III

Each state joining herein shall appoint three representatives to a Commission hereby constituted and designated as the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. One shall be the executive officer of the administrative agency of such state charged with the conservation of the fisheries resources to which this compact pertains or, if there be more than one officer or agency, the official of that state named by the governor thereof. The second shall be a member of the legislature of such state designated by the Commission or Committee on Interstate Cooperation of such state, or if there be none, or if said Commission on Interstate Cooperation cannot constitutionally designate the said member: such legislator shall be designated by the governor thereof; provided, that if it is constitutionally impossible to appoint a legislator as a commissioner from such state, the second member shall be appointed by the governor of said state in his discretion. The third shall be a citizen who shall have a knowledge of and interest in the marine fisheries problem, to be appointed by the governor. The Commission shall be a body corporate with the powers and duties set forth herein.

ARTICLE IV

The duty of the said Commission shall be to make inquiry and ascertain from time to time such methods, practices, circumstances and conditions as may be disclosed for bringing about the consideration of the prevention of the depletion and physical waste of the fisheries, marine, shell and anadromous, of the Atlantic seaboard. The Commission shall have power to recommend the coordination of the exercise of the police powers of the several states within their respective jurisdictions to promote the preservation of those fisheries and their protection against overfishing, waste, depletion or any abuse whatsoever and to assure a continuing yield from the fisheries resources of the aforementioned states.

To that end the Commission shall draft and, after consultation with the Advisory Committee hereinafter authorized, recommend to the governors and legislatures of the various signatory states legislation dealing with the conservation of the marine, shell and anadromous fisheries of the Atlantic seaboard. The Commission shall, more than one month prior to any regular meeting of the legislature in any signatory state, present to the governor of the state its recommendations relating to enactments to be made by the legislature of that state in furthering the intents and purposes of this compact.

The Commission shall consult with and advise the pertinent administrative agencies in the states party hereto with regard to problems connected with the fisheries and recommend the adoption of such regulations as it deems advisable.

The Commission shall have power to recommend to the states party hereto the stocking of the waters of such states with fish and fish eggs, or joint stocking by some or all of the states party hereto, and when two or more of the states shall jointly stock waters the Commission shall act as the coordinating agency for such stocking.

ARTICLE V

The Commission shall elect from its number a chairman and a vice-chairman and shall appoint and at its pleasure remove or discharge such officers and employees as may be required to carry the provision of this compact into effect, and shall fix and determine their duties, qualifications and compensation. Said Commission shall adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of its business. It may establish and maintain one or more offices for the transaction of its business and may meet at any time or place but must meet at least once a year.

ARTICLE VI

No action shall be taken by the Commission in regard to its general affairs except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole number of compacting states present at any meeting. No recommendation shall be made by the Commission in regard to any species of fish except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the compacting states which have an interest in such species. The Commission shall define what shall be an interest.

ARTICLE VII

The Fish and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior of the Government of the United States shall act as the primary research agency of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, cooperating with the research agencies in each state for that purpose. Representatives of the said Fish and Wildlife Service shall attend the meetings of the Commission.

An Advisory Committee to be representative of the commercial fishermen and the salt water anglers and such other interest of each state as the Commission deems advisable shall be established by the Commission as soon as practicable for the purpose of advising the Commission upon such recommendations as it may desire to make.

ARTICLE VIII

When any state other than those named specifically in Article II of this compact shall become a party thereto for the purpose of conserving its anadromous fish in accordance with the provisions of Article II the participation of such state in the action of the Commission shall be limited to such species of anadromous fish.

ARTICLE IX

Nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit the powers of any signatory state or to repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation or the enforcement of any requirement by any signatory state imposing additional conditions and restrictions to conserve its fisheries.

ARTICLE X

Continued absence of representation or of any representative on the Commission from any state party hereto shall be brought to the attention of the governor thereof.

ARTICLE XI

The states party hereto agree to make annual appropriations to the support of the Commission in proportion to the primary market value of the products of their fisheries, exclusive of cod and haddock, as recorded in the most recent published reports of the Fish and Wildlife Service of the United States Department of the Interior, provided no state shall contribute less than two hundred dollars per annum and the annual contribution of each state above the minimum shall be figured to the nearest one hundred dollars.

The compacting states agree to appropriate initially the annual amounts scheduled below, which amounts are calculated in the manner set forth herein, on the basis of the catch record of 1938. Subsequent budgets shall be recommended by a majority of the Commission and the cost thereof allocated equitably among the states in accordance with their respective interests and submitted to the compacting states.

SCHEDULE OF INITIAL STATE CONTRIBUTIONS

ARTICLE XII

Section 1. This compact shall continue in force and remain binding upon each compacting state until renounced by it. Renunciation of this compact must be preceded by sending six months' notice in writing of intention to withdraw from the compact to the other states party hereto.

Section 2. Without further submission of said compact, the consent and approval of Congress is hereby given to the states of Connecticut, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, and for the purpose of the better utilization of their anadromous fisheries, to the states of Vermont and Pennsylvania, to enter into said compact as signatory states and as parties thereto, in addition to the states which have now ratified the compact.

Section 3. The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission constituted by the compact shall make an annual report to Congress not later than sixty days after the beginning of each regular session thereof. Such report shall set forth the activities of the Commission during the calendar year ending immediately prior to the beginning of such session.

Section 4. The right to alter, amend, or repeal the provision sections 1, 2 and 3 is hereby expressly reserved, provided that nothing in this compact shall be construed to limit or add to the powers of the proprietary interest of any signatory state or to repeal or prevent the enactment of any legislation or the enforcement of any requirement by a signatory state imposing additional conditions and restrictions to conserve its fisheries.

AMENDMENT NUMBER 1

The states consenting to this amendment agree that any two or more of them may designate the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission as joint regulatory agency with such powers as they may jointly confer from time to time for the regulation of the fishing operations of the citizens and vessels of such designating states with respect to specific fisheries in which such states have a common interest. The representatives of such states on the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission shall constitute a separate section of such Commission for the exercise of the additional powers so granted provided that the states so acting shall appropriate additional funds for this purpose. The creation of such section as a joint regulatory agency shall not deprive the states participating therein of any of their privileges or powers or responsibilities in the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission under the general compact.

Code 1950, §§ 28-254, 28-255; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-202; 1992, c. 836.

Repealed by Acts 2015, c. 493, cl. 4, effective March, 23, 2015.

Repealed by Acts 2020, cc. 201 and 356, cl. 2, effective March 8, 2020.

PREAMBLE

Whereas, Maryland and Virginia are both vitally interested in conserving and improving the valuable fishery resources of the Tidewater portion of the Potomac River, and

Whereas, certain provisions of the Compact of 1785 between Maryland and Virginia having become obsolete, Maryland and Virginia each recognizing that Maryland is the owner of the Potomac River bed and waters to the low-water mark of the southern shore thereof, as laid out on the Mathews-Nelson Survey of 1927, and that Virginia is the owner of the Potomac River bed and waters southerly from said low-water mark as laid out, and that the citizens of Virginia have certain riparian rights along the southern shore of the river, as shown on said Mathews-Nelson Survey, and, in common with the citizens of Maryland, the right of fishing in said river, Maryland and Virginia have agreed that the necessary conservation and improvement of the Tidewater portion of the Potomac fishery resources can be best achieved by a Commission comprised of representatives of both Maryland and Virginia, charged with the establishment and maintenance of a program to conserve and improve these resources, and

Whereas, at a meeting of the Commissioners appointed by the Governors of the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia, to wit: Carlyle Barton, M. William Adelson, Stephen R. Collins, Edward S. Delaplaine and William J. McWilliams, Esquires, on the part of the State of Maryland, and Mills E. Godwin, Jr., Howard H. Adams, Robert Y. Button, John Warren Cooke and Edward E. Lane, Esquires, on the part of the Commonwealth of Virginia, at Mount Vernon, Virginia, on the twentieth day of December, in the year one thousand nine hundred and fifty-eight, the following Potomac River Compact of 1958 between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the State of Maryland was mutually agreed to by the said Commissioners:

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Commissioners appointed by the Governors of the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia, meeting in joint session, that they do unanimously recommend to the said respective Governors that there be a new compact, to be designated as the "Potomac River Compact of 1958," and that the said new compact be referred as promptly as possible to the legislatures of the State of Maryland and the Commonwealth of Virginia for appropriate action, and to the end and after ratification and adoption by said legislatures the same be submitted to the Congress of the United States for approval.

ARTICLE I

COMMISSION -- MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION

§ 1. Commission created. -- The Potomac River Fisheries Commission, hereinafter designated as "Commission," is hereby created.

§ 2. Members. -- The Commission shall consist of eight members, four from Maryland and four from Virginia. The Maryland members shall be the Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources of Maryland or its successor agency or the Secretary's designee, and three members at large to be appointed by the Governor of Maryland with the advice and consent of the Senate of Maryland. The Virginia members shall be three members of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission or its successor agency, and one member at large, to be appointed by the Governor of Virginia. If the membership of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission exceeds three, then the three Commission members from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission shall be selected by the Governor of Virginia; and if the membership of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission is less than three, the four Commission members from Virginia shall be the member or members of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and such additional person or persons who shall be appointed by the Governor as may be necessary to constitute a total of four Commissioners.

§ 3. Term, vacancies. -- The term of Commissioners who are members of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission shall be coterminous with their term on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. The Secretary of the Department of Natural Resources of Maryland or the Secretary's designee shall serve ex officio. The term of all other Commissioners shall be four years. Vacancies on the Commission shall be filled by appointment of the Governor of the State entitled to fill the vacancy, except that if the Virginia Marine Resources Commission has three members, the person filling a vacancy on the Virginia Marine Resources Commission shall ex officio become a member of the Commission.

§ 4. Chairman. -- The chairman of the Commission shall alternate from year to year between the representatives of Maryland and Virginia. Subject to such alternation, the chairman shall be elected by the Commissioners for a term of one year.

§ 5. Compensation, expenses. -- Commissioners shall be entitled to receive from the General Fund of the Commission compensation not to exceed two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) for each day or portion thereof spent in the performance of their duties, but in no event to exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) in any year, and reimbursement of reasonable expenses incident to the performance of their duties.

§ 6. Meetings, quorum. -- Commission meetings shall be held at least once each quarter, and at such other times as the Commission may determine.

In order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at least two of the four members from each State must be present and must vote on the business being transacted.

§ 7. Office and employees. -- (For expiration date, see Acts 2007, c. 885, cl. 2) The Commission shall establish and maintain an office at such locations as it may select, and may employ an executive secretary who shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission, and such other administrative, clerical, scientific, and legal personnel as it deems necessary. The powers, duties and compensation of all employees shall be as prescribed by the Commission, and the employees shall not be subject to the provisions of Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland that govern the Maryland State Personnel Management System nor to the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.), as the same may be from time to time in effect. The Commission may extend to any employee or employees membership in the Virginia Retirement System or the Maryland Employees' Retirement System, whichever is applicable, subject to the laws relating to each such retirement system. Employees of the Commission shall also be eligible for the health and related insurance for state employees in § 2.2-2818 of the Code of Virginia or Title 2, Subtitle 5 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, whichever is applicable.

§ 7. Office and employees. -- (For effective date, see Acts 2007, c. 885, cl. 2) The Commission shall establish and maintain an office at such locations as it may select, and may employ an executive secretary who shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission, and such other administrative, clerical, scientific, and legal personnel as it deems necessary. The powers, duties and compensation of all employees shall be as prescribed by the Commission, and the employees shall not be subject to the provisions of Division I of the State Personnel and Pensions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland that govern the Maryland State Personnel Management System nor to the provisions of the Virginia Personnel Act (§ 2.2-2900 et seq.), as the same may be from time to time in effect. The Commission may extend to any employee or employees membership in the Virginia Retirement System or the Maryland Employees' Retirement System, whichever is applicable, subject to the laws relating to each such retirement system. Employees and retirees of the Commission shall also be eligible for the health and related insurance for state employees and retirees in § 2.2-2818 of the Code of Virginia or Title 2, Subtitle 5 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, whichever is applicable.

ARTICLE II

JURISDICTIONAL BOUNDARIES

The territory in which the Potomac River Fisheries Commission shall have jurisdiction shall be those waters of the Potomac River enclosed within the following described area:

Beginning at the intersection of mean low-water mark at Point Lookout and an established line running from Smiths Point to Point Lookout, marking Chesapeake Bay waters; thence following the mean low-water line of the shore northwesterly across the respective mouths of all creeks to Gray Point at the westerly entrance into Rowley Bay; thence in a straight line northwesterly to the southerly extremity of Kitts Point; thence along the mean low-water line to the southwesterly point of St. Inigoes Neck; thence in a straight line westerly to the most easterly point of St. Georges Island; thence following the mean low-water line in a general northwesterly direction, across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets to the southwesterly point of Huggins Point; thence in a straight line southwesterly to the eastern extremity of the sandbar known as Heron Island; thence northwesterly following the ridge of Heron Island Bar to its westerly extremity; thence southwesterly in a straight line to the most southerly point of Blackiston Island; thence in a straight line northwesterly to the southern extremity of Colton's Point; thence following the mean low-water line, westerly, excluding all creeks and inlets, to the point marking the southeasterly entrance into St. Catherine Sound; thence westerly in a straight line to the southern extremity of St. Catherine Island Sandbar; thence northwesterly, along the westerly edge of said sandbar continuing along the mean low-water line of the southwesterly side of St. Catherine Island to the northwesterly point of said island; thence westerly in a straight line to Cobb Point Bar Lighthouse; thence northwesterly along the ridge of Cobb Point Sandbar to the southerly extremity of Cobb Point; thence following the mean low-water line in general northwesterly and northerly directions across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets to a point at the easterly entrance into Port Tobacco River, due east of Windmill Point; thence in a straight line westerly to Windmill Point; thence southwesterly following the mean low-water line across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets to Upper Cedar Point; thence southwesterly in a straight line across the mouth of Nanjemoy Creek to a point on shore at the village of Riverside; thence following the mean low-water line, southwesterly, northwesterly and northerly across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets to Smiths Point; thence northerly in a straight line to Liverpool Point; thence northerly in a straight line to Sandy Point; thence following the mean low-water line northerly, across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets to Moss Point; thence northerly in a straight line across Chicamuxen Creek to the southernmost point of Stump Neck; thence following the mean low-water line northeasterly, across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets, to a point at the southerly entrance into Mattawoman Creek; thence in a straight line northeasterly across the mouth of Mattawoman Creek to the southwesterly point of Cornwallis Neck; thence following the mean low-water line northeasterly, across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets, to Chapman Point; thence in a straight line northeasterly to Pomonkey or Hillis Point; thence following the mean low-water line in a northerly direction across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets, to a point on Marshall Hall shore, due south of Ferry Point; thence northeasterly in a straight line to Bryan Point; thence northeasterly in a straight line to the northwest extremity of Mockley Point; thence northeasterly in a straight line to Hatton Point; thence northerly in a straight line to the southwesternmost point of Indian Queen Bluff; thence following the mean low-water line northerly across the respective mouths of all creeks and inlets, to Rosier Bluff Point; thence in a straight line northerly to the intersection with the District of Columbia line at Fox Ferry Point; thence following the boundary line of the District of Columbia southwesterly to a point on the lower or southern shore of the Potomac River, said point being the intersection of the boundary line of the Commonwealth of Virginia with the boundary line of the District of Columbia; thence following the mean low-water line of the Potomac River on the southern, or Virginia shore, as defined in the Black-Jenkins Award of 1877 and as laid out in the Mathews-Nelson Survey of 1927, beginning at the intersection of the Potomac River and the District of Columbia line at Jones Point and running to Smiths Point; and thence in a straight line across the mouth of the Potomac River on the established line from Smiths Point to Point Lookout, to the mean low-water mark at Point Lookout, the place of beginning.

ARTICLE III

COMMISSION POWERS AND DUTIES

§ 1. Oyster bars. -- The Commission shall make a survey of the oyster bars within its jurisdiction and may reseed and replant said oyster bars as may from time to time be necessary.

§ 2. Fish and seafood. -- The Commission may by regulation prescribe the type, size and description of all species of finfish, crabs, oysters, clams and other shellfish which may be taken or caught, within its jurisdiction, the places where they may be taken or caught, and the manner of taking or catching.

§ 3. Research. -- The Commission shall maintain a program of research relating to the conservation and repletion of the fishery resources within its jurisdiction, and to that end may cooperate and contract with scientists and public and private scientific agencies engaged in similar work, and may purchase, construct, lease, borrow or otherwise acquire by any lawful method such property, structures, facilities, or equipment as it deems necessary.

§ 4. Licenses. -- (a) The Commission shall issue such licenses as it may prescribe which shall thereupon be required for the taking of finfish, crabs, oysters, clams or other shellfish from the waters within the jurisdiction of the Commission, and for boats, vessels and equipment used for such taking. Recognizing that the right of fishing in the territory over which the Commission shall have jurisdiction is and shall be common to and equally enjoyed by the citizens of Virginia and Maryland, the Commission shall make no distinction between the citizens of Virginia or Maryland in any rule, regulation or the granting of any licenses, privileges, or rights under this compact.

(b) Licenses for the taking of oysters and clams and the commercial taking of finfish and crabs within the jurisdiction of the Commission shall be granted only to citizens of Maryland or Virginia who have resided in either or both States for at least twelve months immediately preceding the application for the license. Within six months after the effective date of this compact, the Commission shall adopt a schedule of licenses, the privileges granted thereby, and the fees therefor, which may be modified from time to time in the discretion of the Commission.

(c) The licenses hereby authorized may be issued at such place, by such persons, and in accordance with such procedures as the Commission may determine.

§ 5. Expenditures. -- The Commission is authorized to expend funds for the purposes of general administration, repletion of the fish and shellfish in the Potomac River, and the conservation and research programs authorized under this compact, subject to the limitations provided in this compact.

§ 6. Grants, contributions, etc. -- The Commission is authorized to receive and accept (or to refuse) from any and all public and private sources such grants, contributions, appropriations, donations, and gifts as may be given to it, which shall be paid into and become part of the General Fund of the Commission, except where the donor instructs that it shall be used for a specific project, study, purpose, or program, in which event it shall be placed in a special account, which shall be administered under the same procedure as that prescribed for the General Fund.

§ 7. Cooperation of state agencies. -- The Commission may call upon the resources and assistance of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the University of Maryland System, and all other agencies, institutions and departments of Maryland and Virginia which shall cooperate fully with the Commission upon such request.

§ 8. Regulations. -- The Commission shall have the power to make, adopt and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for the conduct of its meetings, such hearings as it may from time to time hold, and for the administration of its affairs.

§ 9. Inspection tax. -- The Commission may impose an inspection tax, in an amount as fixed from time to time by the Commission, which inspection tax may not exceed two dollars ($2.00) per bushel, upon all oysters caught within the limits of the Potomac River. The tax shall be paid by the buyer at the place in Maryland or Virginia where the oysters are unloaded from vessels and are to be shipped no further in bulk in vessel, to an agent of the Commission, or to such officer or employee of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission or of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, as may be designated by the Commission, and by him paid over to the Commission. The Commission shall use the proceeds of the oyster inspection tax solely for planting seed or shell oyster on working bottom.

ARTICLE IV

COMMISSION REGULATIONS -- PROCEDURE AND REVIEW

§ 1. Notice, hearing, vote. -- No regulation shall be adopted by the Commission unless:

(a) A public hearing is held thereon;

(b) Prior to the hearing the Commission has given notice of the proposed regulation by publication thereof at least once a week for three successive weeks in at least one newspaper published, or having a general circulation in each county of Maryland and Virginia contiguous to the waters within the Commission's jurisdiction, the first such publication to be at least thirty (30) days but not more than forty-five (45) days prior to the date of the hearing;

(c) A copy of the proposed regulation is mailed at least thirty (30) days but not more than forty-five (45) days prior to the hearing, to the clerk of the court of each county of Maryland and Virginia contiguous to the waters within the Commission's jurisdiction, who shall post the same in a conspicuous place at or in the courthouse; and

(d) The regulation is approved by at least six members of the Commission.

§ 2. Recording, effective date. -- (a) Regulations of the Commission shall be exempt from the provisions of Chapter 40 (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.) of Title 2.2 of the Code of Virginia (1950 Edition, as amended from time to time), and of §§ 10-106 and 10-107 of the State Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition, as amended from time to time). Copies of Commission regulations shall be kept on public file and available for public reference in the office of the Commission, the office of the clerk of court in each county of Maryland and Virginia contiguous to the waters within the Commission's jurisdiction, the office of the Virginia Registrar of Regulations, the office of the Maryland Department of Legislative Reference, the office of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and the office of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

(b) No regulation of the Commission shall become effective until thirty (30) days after the date of its adoption, or such later date as may be fixed by the Commission.

(c) Leasing, dredging or patent tonging shall be authorized by the Commission only if such authorization is granted by joint action of the Legislatures of Maryland and Virginia.

§ 3. Review. -- Any person aggrieved by any regulation or order of the Commission may at any time file a petition for declaratory judgment with respect to the validity or construction thereof, in the circuit court of any county in Maryland or Virginia contiguous to the waters within the Commission's jurisdiction. A review of the final judgment of the circuit court may be appealed to the court of highest appellate jurisdiction of the State in accordance with the rules of procedure in such state.

§ 4. Revision by legislative action. -- Regulations of the Commission may be amended, modified, or rescinded by joint enactment of the General Assembly of Maryland and the General Assembly of Virginia.

§ 5. Revision of compact. -- At any time subsequent to the adoption of this compact the Governor or Legislature of either Maryland or Virginia may call for the appointment of a Commission to make further study and recommendations concerning revision and amendments to this compact, at which time the Governors of the respective States shall act forthwith in compliance with the request for the appointment of said Commission.

ARTICLE V

ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS; PENALTIES

§ 1. Responsibility for enforcement. -- The regulations and orders of the Commission shall be enforced by the joint effort of the law-enforcement agencies and officers of Maryland and Virginia.

§ 2. (Contingent expiration date -- see Editor's note) Penalties. -- The violation of any regulation of the Commission shall be a misdemeanor. Unless a lesser punishment is provided by the Commission, such violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or confinement in a penal institution for not more than one (1) year, or both, in the discretion of the court, and any vessel, boat, or equipment used in the taking of finfish, crabs, oysters, clams, or other shellfish from the Potomac River in violation of any regulation of the Commission or of applicable laws may be confiscated by the court, upon the abandonment thereof or the conviction of the owner or operator thereof.

§ 2. (Contingent effective date -- see Editor's note) Penalties. -- The violation of any regulation of the Commission shall be a misdemeanor. Unless a lesser punishment is provided by the Commission, such violation shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed three thousand dollars ($3,000.00) or confinement in a penal institution for not more than one (1) year, or both, in the discretion of the court, and any vessel, boat, or equipment used in the taking of finfish, crabs, oysters, clams, or other shellfish from the Potomac River in violation of any regulation of the Commission or of applicable laws may be confiscated by the court, upon the abandonment thereof or the conviction of the owner or operator thereof.

§ 3. (Contingent expiration date -- see Editor's note) Jurisdiction of court. -- The officer making an arrest or preferring a charge for violation of a regulation of the Commission or an applicable State law respecting the waters within the Commission's jurisdiction shall take the alleged offender to a court of competent jurisdiction in either State, in a county adjacent to the portion of the Potomac River where the alleged offense occurred, which shall thereupon have jurisdiction over the offense.

§ 3. (Contingent effective date -- see Editor's note) Jurisdiction of court. -- The officer making an arrest or preferring a charge for violation of a regulation of the Commission or an applicable State law respecting the waters within the Commission's jurisdiction shall take the alleged offender to a court of competent jurisdiction in the state in which he resides if he is a resident of Virginia or Maryland, or if the offender is not a resident of either state, in a county adjacent to the portion of the Potomac River where the alleged offense occurred, which shall thereupon have jurisdiction over the offense.

§ 4. Disposition of fines and forfeitures. -- All fines imposed for violation of regulations of the Commission or applicable State laws respecting the waters within the Commission's jurisdiction shall be paid into the court in which the case is prosecuted, and accounted for under the laws applicable to that court. Any property confiscated under the provisions of this compact shall be turned over to the Commission, which may retain, use or dispose of it as it deems best.

ARTICLE VI

COMMISSION FINANCES

§ 1. Budget. -- The Commission shall approve and adopt a proposed annual budget showing estimated income, revenues, appropriations, and grants from all sources, and estimated necessary expenditures and shall send a copy thereof to the Governors of Maryland and Virginia.

§ 2. Appropriations. -- The said Governors shall place in the proposed budget of their respective States for each year the sum of not less than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00) for the expenses and the other purposes of the Commission for that year, except that none of the sum so appropriated shall be used for law-enforcement purposes; and the General Assembly of each of the two States agrees to appropriate annually not less than this sum to the Commission.

§ 3. General Fund. -- (a) The General Fund shall consist of:

(1) All income and revenue received from the issuance of licenses under this compact;

(2) The proceeds of the disposition of property confiscated pursuant to the provisions of this compact;

(3) The proceeds of the inspection tax upon oysters imposed pursuant to this compact; and

(4) The funds appropriated to the Commission by the two States.

(b) The General Fund of the Commission shall be kept in such bank or depository as the Commission shall from time to time select. The General Fund shall be audited annually by the Auditor of Public Accounts of Virginia and the State Auditor of Maryland acting jointly, and at such other times as the Commission may request.

ARTICLE VII

EFFECT ON EXISTING LAWS AND PRIOR COMPACT

§ 1. Existing rights. -- The rights, including the privilege of erecting and maintaining wharves and other improvements, of the citizens of each State along the shores of the Potomac River adjoining their lands shall be neither diminished, restricted, enlarged, increased nor otherwise altered by this compact, and the decisions of the courts construing that portion of Article VII of the Compact of 1785 relating to the rights of riparian owners shall be given full force and effect.

§ 2. Existing laws. -- The laws of the State of Maryland relate to finfish, crabs, oysters, and clams in the Potomac River, as set forth in former Article 66C of the Annotated Code of Maryland and as in effect on December one, nineteen hundred fifty-eight, shall be and remain applicable in the Potomac River except to the extent changed, amended, or modified by regulations of the Commission adopted in accordance with this compact.

§ 3. Existing licenses. -- The rights and privileges of licensees to take and catch finfish, crabs, oysters, clams, and other shellfish in the Potomac River, which are in effect at the time this compact becomes effective, shall continue in force for a period of six months at which time every such license and every such right and privilege shall be abrogated.

ARTICLE VIII

EFFECT OF RATIFICATION

These articles shall be laid before the Legislatures of Virginia and Maryland, and their approbation being obtained, shall be confirmed and ratified by a law of each State, never to be repealed or altered by either, without the consent of the other.

ARTICLE IX

EFFECTIVE DATE

This compact, which takes the place of the Compact of 1785 between Maryland and Virginia, shall take effect at the expiration of sixty (60) days after the completion of the last act legally necessary to make it operative, and thereupon the said Compact of 1785 shall no longer have any force or effect.

Code 1950, § 28-218.1; 1959, Ex. Sess., cc. 5, 28; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-203; 1984, c. 637; 1985, c. 102; 1992, c. 836; 1995, c. 257; 1998, c. 216; 2007, c. 885; 2013, cc. 635, 688.

All governmental agencies of the Commonwealth of Virginia are authorized to cooperate with the Potomac River Fisheries Commission created by the Potomac River Compact approved by this article, it being the policy of this Commonwealth to perform and carry out the compact and accomplish its purposes.

Code 1950, §§ 28-218.2, 28-218.3; 1959, Ex. Sess., cc. 5, 28; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-203.1; 1992, c. 836 .

The Potomac River Fisheries Commission shall have the power to make, adopt and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for authorizing and regulating the dredging of soft shell clams in areas within its geographical jurisdiction and may levy license fees for such dredging in amounts to be set in its discretion.

1964, Ex. Sess., c. 24, § 28.1-227; 1992, c. 836 .

The Potomac River Fisheries Commission shall have the power to make, adopt and permit such rules and regulations and to take such action as may be necessary or advisable for authorizing and regulating a pilot program for experimental oyster hatchery seed planting, growing, and harvesting with private planters and public and private scientific agencies engaged in similar work in its jurisdiction, and may set aside available barren natural oyster rocks for this purpose and to allow dredging of same for inspection, sampling and harvesting under the supervision and control of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission and in cooperation with the Maryland or Virginia public scientific agencies, Chesapeake Biological Laboratory and Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

The provisions of this section shall not take effect until a similar act becomes effective in the State of Maryland, whereupon the Governor of Virginia shall issue a proclamation declaring the provisions of this section to be effective.

1974, c. 89, § 28.1-228; 1992, c. 836 .

The Potomac River Fisheries Commission shall have the power to make, adopt and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for authorizing and regulating the dredging of oysters in areas of the Potomac River within its geographical jurisdiction and may levy license and repletion fees for same.

1974, c. 89, § 28.1-229; 1982, c. 116; 1992, c. 836 .

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, finfish, crabs, oysters, clams, and other shellfish caught in the waters within the jurisdiction of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, in compliance with the regulations prescribed by the Commission pursuant to the Potomac River Compact of 1958, may be possessed, stored, marketed, and otherwise disposed of elsewhere in the Commonwealth.

2001, c. 233.

The Potomac River Fisheries Commission shall have the power to make, adopt, and publish such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for authorizing and regulating the leasing of the river bottom or the water column in areas of the Potomac River within its geographical jurisdiction and may levy license, leasing, and repletion fees for same.

2007, c. 885.