<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62678</law_id><section_number>28.2-511</section_number><catch_line>Culling oysters; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="28.2">Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="II">Tidal Fisheries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Oysters and Clams</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="2">Fishing for Oysters and Clams; Device Restrictions</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> 1. In addition to any other <span class="dictionary">penalty</span> prescribed by <span class="dictionary">law</span>, any person charged with violating any regulation governing the culling of oysters shall be required, by the <span class="dictionary">officer</span> making the charge, to scatter the entire cargo of oysters on the public rocks under the supervision of the <span class="dictionary">officer</span> and at the expense of the person charged with the violation. No portion of the cargo of oysters shall be scattered anywhere other than on the public rocks. <a id="paragraph-228533" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-511/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> In lieu of throwing the cargo overboard, the person charged with the violation may post a <span class="dictionary">bond</span> by credit card, check, or cash with the <span class="dictionary">officer</span> in an amount approximately equal to the value of the entire load as determined by the <span class="dictionary">officer</span>. If the person charged posts a <span class="dictionary">bond</span> by credit card, the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may collect such actual credit card service charges as apply. <a id="paragraph-228534" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-511/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> The refusal to either dump the oysters overboard or post a <span class="dictionary">bond</span> is a distinct and separate <span class="dictionary">offense</span> from any other violation. A person who has posted a <span class="dictionary">bond</span> and is acquitted shall be refunded the <span class="dictionary">bond</span>. If the person is found guilty, the <span class="dictionary">bond</span> shall be forfeited and deposited to the credit of the Oyster Replenishment Fund. <a id="paragraph-228535" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-511/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any person charged with a violation of a regulation who posts <span class="dictionary">bond</span> shall properly cull the entire cargo of oysters immediately after the <span class="dictionary">officer</span> has found the oysters to be in violation of such regulation and before they can be sold, planted, or disposed of by him or by any other person. <a id="paragraph-228536" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-511/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The requirement to scatter the entire cargo of oysters on the public rocks shall only apply to a cargo of oysters taken by any catcher from the public oyster grounds and shall not apply to oysters which have been purchased by and are in the <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of a buyer.
			A violation of any provision of this section is a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-228537" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-511/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 28-141; 1960, c. 517; 1962, c. 406, &#xA7; 28.1-124; 1964, c. 393; 1966, c. 684; 1968, c. 747; 1979, c. 606; 1981, c. 52; 1985, c. 125; 1992, c. 836; 2013, c. 38; 2017, c. 340.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
