{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/28.2-203.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/28.2-203.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/28.2-203.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/28.2-203.1.html"}],"law_id":71649,"edition_id":1,"section_id":71649,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-203.1","catch_line":"Blue crab fishery management plan","history":"1995, c. 356.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Commission shall prepare, in consultation with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, other educational institutions and representatives of industry and interested parties, and then implement a blue crab fishery management plan. The plan shall build upon previously developed plans, including consideration of plans adopted by the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Program, and shall be consistent with the standards for fishery conservation and management set out in \u00a7 28.2-203. The plan shall be designed to reverse any fishing practices, environmental stress and habitat deterioration negatively impacting the short and long term viability and sustainability of the crab stock in Virginia waters. The Commission shall consider the economic impact to Virginia of proposed legislative and regulatory changes. The protection of spawning stock, nursery areas and habitat shall be of prime consideration in the plan. At a minimum the plan shall include, but not be limited to:1\n\nMeasures to protect and enhance crab habitat and nursery areas.2\n\nSuggested measures to assure water quality conditions necessary for blue crab survival and reproduction, including identification of areas where water quality is such that onshore mechanisms for water quality protection are needed to protect and restore crab populations and habitat areas.3\n\nA review of current and proposed regulations and restrictions relating to: (i) winter dredging; (ii) commercial licensing; (iii) spawning stock; (iv) nursing sanctuaries; (v) submerged aquatic vegetation; (vi) peeler and soft shell crabs; (vii) size limits; (viii) the use of cull rings and the use of crab pots; and (ix) time of day restrictions and closed seasons.4\n\nRecommended legislative changes if necessary to implement the plan.B\n\nThe Commission shall, on or before December 1 of each year, report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress and implementation of the blue crab fisheries management plan.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":258176,"text":"The Commission shall prepare, in consultation with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, other educational institutions and representatives of industry and interested parties, and then implement a blue crab fishery management plan. The plan shall build upon previously developed plans, including consideration of plans adopted by the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Program, and shall be consistent with the standards for fishery conservation and management set out in \u00a7 28.2-203. The plan shall be designed to reverse any fishing practices, environmental stress and habitat deterioration negatively impacting the short and long term viability and sustainability of the crab stock in Virginia waters. The Commission shall consider the economic impact to Virginia of proposed legislative and regulatory changes. The protection of spawning stock, nursery areas and habitat shall be of prime consideration in the plan. At a minimum the plan shall include, but not be limited to:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":258177,"text":"Measures to protect and enhance crab habitat and nursery areas.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":258178,"text":"Suggested measures to assure water quality conditions necessary for blue crab survival and reproduction, including identification of areas where water quality is such that onshore mechanisms for water quality protection are needed to protect and restore crab populations and habitat areas.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":258179,"text":"A review of current and proposed regulations and restrictions relating to: (i) winter dredging; (ii) commercial licensing; (iii) spawning stock; (iv) nursing sanctuaries; (v) submerged aquatic vegetation; (vi) peeler and soft shell crabs; (vii) size limits; (viii) the use of cull rings and the use of crab pots; and (ix) time of day restrictions and closed seasons.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":258180,"text":"Recommended legislative changes if necessary to implement the plan.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"B"},"5":{"id":258181,"text":"The Commission shall, on or before December 1 of each year, report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress and implementation of the blue crab fisheries management plan.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A4"}},"ancestry":[{"id":15896,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers and Duties","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12815,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:01:26","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:01:26","permalink":{"id":190763,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":15896,"identifier":"1","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1","url":"\/28.2\/II\/2\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12815,"edition_id":1,"name":"General Provisions","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12814,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190761,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12815,"identifier":"2","token":"28.2\/II\/2","url":"\/28.2\/II\/2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12814,"edition_id":1,"name":"Tidal Fisheries","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12813,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190673,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12814,"identifier":"II","token":"28.2\/II","url":"\/28.2\/II\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12813,"edition_id":1,"name":"Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters","identifier":"28.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:54","permalink":{"id":190589,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12813,"identifier":"28.2","token":"28.2","url":"\/28.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":83406,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-200","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/28.2-200\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-200","metadata":false},{"id":65052,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-201","catch_line":"Authority of Commission to make regulations, establish licenses, and prepare fishery management plans; accept federal grants; enforcement; penalty for violation of regulation","url":"\/28.2-201\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-201","metadata":false},{"id":84816,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-201.1","catch_line":"Commission to administer grants to individuals transferring oysters to a state-managed sanctuary; fund","url":"\/28.2-201.1\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-201.1","metadata":false},{"id":73500,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-202","catch_line":"Commissioner; fishery powers","url":"\/28.2-202\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-202","metadata":false},{"id":71402,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-203","catch_line":"Commission to prepare fishery management plans; standards","url":"\/28.2-203\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-203","metadata":false},{"id":71649,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-203.1","catch_line":"Blue crab fishery management plan","url":"\/28.2-203.1\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-203.1","metadata":false},{"id":85265,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-204","catch_line":"Authority to collect fisheries statistics","url":"\/28.2-204\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-204","metadata":false},{"id":72278,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-204.1","catch_line":"Limited sale of gear licenses and permits; regulations","url":"\/28.2-204.1\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-204.1","metadata":false},{"id":73405,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-205","catch_line":"Scientific collection permits; penalty","url":"\/28.2-205\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-205","metadata":false},{"id":86367,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-206","catch_line":"Virginia Saltwater Sport Fishing Tournament","url":"\/28.2-206\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-206","metadata":false},{"id":79448,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-207","catch_line":"Tournament Advisory Committee continued","url":"\/28.2-207\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-207","metadata":false},{"id":61585,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-208","catch_line":"Marine Fishing Improvement Fund continued","url":"\/28.2-208\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-208","metadata":false},{"id":64702,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-208.1","catch_line":"Commercial Fishing Advisory Board established","url":"\/28.2-208.1\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-208.1","metadata":false},{"id":73975,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-208.2","catch_line":"Menhaden Management Advisory Committee established","url":"\/28.2-208.2\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-208.2","metadata":false},{"id":66425,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-208.3","catch_line":"Fisheries Innovation for Sustainable Harvest Fund","url":"\/28.2-208.3\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-208.3","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":71402,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-203","catch_line":"Commission to prepare fishery management plans; standards","url":"\/28.2-203\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-203","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":85265,"structure_id":15896,"section_number":"28.2-204","catch_line":"Authority to collect fisheries statistics","url":"\/28.2-204\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-204","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/28.2-203.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1995. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 356<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":71402,"section_number":"28.2-203","catch_line":"Commission to prepare fishery management plans; standards","order_by":null,"url":"\/28.2-203\/"}],"permalink":{"id":190785,"object_type":"law","relational_id":71649,"identifier":"28.2-203.1","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-203.1","url":"\/28.2-203.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/28.2-203.1\/","token":"28.2\/II\/2\/1\/28.2-203.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Blue crab fishery management plan","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 28.2-203.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Commission<\/span> shall prepare, in consultation with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, other educational institutions and representatives of industry and interested parties, and then implement a blue crab fishery management plan. The plan shall build upon previously developed plans, including consideration of plans adopted by the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Program, and shall be consistent with the standards for fishery conservation and management set out in \u00a7 28.2-203<\/a>. The plan shall be designed to reverse<\/span> any fishing<\/span> practices, environmental stress and habitat<\/span> deterioration negatively impacting the short and long term viability and sustainability of the crab stock in Virginia waters. The Commission<\/span> shall consider the economic impact to Virginia of proposed legislative and regulatory changes. The protection of spawning stock, nursery areas and habitat<\/span> shall be of prime consideration in the plan. At a minimum the plan shall include, but not be limited to: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Measures to protect and enhance crab habitat<\/span> and nursery areas. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Suggested measures to assure water quality conditions necessary for blue crab survival and reproduction, including identification of areas where water quality is such that onshore mechanisms for water quality protection are needed to protect and restore crab populations and habitat<\/span> areas. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> A review of current and proposed regulations and restrictions relating to: (i) winter dredging; (ii) commercial licensing; (iii) spawning stock; (iv) nursing sanctuaries; (v) submerged aquatic vegetation; (vi) peeler and soft shell crabs; (vii) size limits; (viii) the use of cull rings and the use of crab pots; and (ix) time of day restrictions and closed seasons. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Recommended legislative changes if necessary to implement the plan. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Commission<\/span> shall, on or before December 1 of each year, report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the progress and implementation of the blue crab fisheries<\/span> management plan. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nBLUE CRAB FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN (\u00a7 28.2-203.1)\n\nA. The Commission shall prepare, in consultation with the Virginia Institute of\nMarine Science, other educational institutions and representatives of industry\nand interested parties, and then implement a blue crab fishery management plan.\nThe plan shall build upon previously developed plans, including consideration of\nplans adopted by the multi-state Chesapeake Bay Program, and shall be consistent\nwith the standards for fishery conservation and management set out in \u00a7\n28.2-203. The plan shall be designed to reverse any fishing practices,\nenvironmental stress and habitat deterioration negatively impacting the short\nand long term viability and sustainability of the crab stock in Virginia waters.\nThe Commission shall consider the economic impact to Virginia of proposed\nlegislative and regulatory changes. The protection of spawning stock, nursery\nareas and habitat shall be of prime consideration in the plan. At a minimum the\nplan shall include, but not be limited to:\n\n 1. Measures to protect and enhance crab habitat and nursery areas.\n\n 2. Suggested measures to assure water quality conditions necessary for blue\n crab survival and reproduction, including identification of areas where water\n quality is such that onshore mechanisms for water quality protection are\n needed to protect and restore crab populations and habitat areas.\n\n 3. A review of current and proposed regulations and restrictions relating to:\n (i) winter dredging; (ii) commercial licensing; (iii) spawning stock; (iv)\n nursing sanctuaries; (v) submerged aquatic vegetation; (vi) peeler and soft\n shell crabs; (vii) size limits; (viii) the use of cull rings and the use of\n crab pots; and (ix) time of day restrictions and closed seasons.\n\n 4. Recommended legislative changes if necessary to implement the plan.\n\nB. The Commission shall, on or before December 1 of each year, report to the\nGovernor and the General Assembly on the progress and implementation of the blue\ncrab fisheries management plan.\n\nHISTORY: 1995, c. 356.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}