VIRGINIA MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION
"PERTAINING TO BLUE CRAB SANCTUARIES"
CHAPTER 4 VAC 20-752-10 ET SEQ.
This chapter establishes the Virginia Blue Crab Sanctuary and provisions to control the harvest of crabs from these areas. This chapter is promulgated pursuant to the authority contained in §§28.2-201, 28.2-203, and 28.2-203.1 of the Code of Virginia. This chapter amends and re-adopts, as amended, previous Chapter 4VAC20-752-10 which was promulgated March 25, 2008 and made effective on April 1, 2008. The effective date of this chapter, as amended, is April 30, 2008.
4VAC20-752-10. PURPOSE.
The provisions of this chapter are in response to reduced abundance in the blue crab stock and over-exploitation of this resource. This chapter promotes conservation of the blue crab resource within the below designated areas of the Chesapeake Bay system.
4VAC20-752-20. DEFINITIONS.
COLREGS Line means the COLREGS Demarcation lines, as specified in Coastal Pilot, 35th and 36th editions by Lighthouse Press.
THREE NAUTICAL MILE LIMIT LINE means the outer limit of the area extending three miles out to sea from the coast, as depicted on NOAA nautical charts.
Virginia Blue Crab Sanctuary means two distinct sanctuary areas, Area 1 and Area 2, with Area 1 consisting of all tidal waters which are bounded by a line beginning at a point, near the western shore of Fishermans Island, being on a line from the Cape Charles Lighthouse to the Thimble Shoal Light, having NAD83 geographic coordinates of 37° 05 58.00 N, 75° 58 45.95 W; thence southwesterly to Thimble Shoal Light, 37° 00 52.19 N, 76° 14 24.63 W; thence southwesterly to the offshore end of Harrisons Fishing Pier, 36° 57 44.98 N, 76° 15 31.76 W; thence north to Flashing Green Buoy 9 on the York River Entrance Channel, 37° 11 30.99 N, 76° 15 16.85 W; thence northeasterly to Wolf Trap Light, 37° 23 27.15 N, 76° 11 46.01 W; thence northwesterly to a point, northeast of Windmill Point, 37° 38 23.13 N, 76° 15 59.54 W; thence northerly to a point due east of Great Wicomico Light at 37° 48' 15.72"N, 76° 14' 33.15" W; thence northeasterly to a point, 37° 49' 18.10" N, 76° 13' 06.00" W; thence northerly to a point on the Virginia-Maryland State line, 37° 54' 04.00" N, 76° 11' 49.15" W; thence northeasterly to a point on the Virginia Maryland State Line, 37° 55 44.82 N, 76° 07 13.41 W; thence southeasterly to a point, southwest of Tangier Island, 37° 44 59.85 N, 76° 01 34.31 W; thence southeasterly to a point, southeast of Tangier Island, 37° 43 41.05 N, 75° 5751.84 W; thence northeasterly to a point, south of Watts Island, 37° 45 36.95 N, 75° 52 53.87 W; thence southeasterly to a point, 37° 44 56.15 N, 75° 51 33.18 W; thence southwesterly to a point, west of Parkers Marsh, 37° 42 41.49 N, 75° 55 06.31 W; thence southwesterly to a point, west of Cape Charles Harbor, 37° 15 37.23 N, 76° 04 13.79 W; thence southeasterly to a point near the western shore of Fisherman's Island, on the line from Cape Charles Lighthouse to Thimble Shoal Light, said point being the point of beginning, and a continuation of Area 1, consisting of all tidal waters which are bounded by a line beginning at Cape Charles Lighthouse, having NAD83 geographic coordinates of 37° 07 31.63 N, 75° 53 58.36 W; thence southwesterly to Cape Henry Lighthouse, 36° 55 42.02 N, 76° 00 18.44 W; thence southeasterly to a point, 36° 54 42.39 N, 75° 56 44.23 W; thence northeasterly to a point, east of Cape Charles Lighthouse 37° 06 45 N, 75° 52 05 W; thence westerly to the Cape Charles Lighthouse, said point being the point of beginning and a second area, Area 2, beginning at a point, 37° 06 45.00 N, 75° 52 05.00 W; thence southwesterly to a point, 37° 03 11.49 N, 75° 53 27.02 W, said point being a point on the THREE NAUTICAL MILE LIMIT LINE; thence southerly following the THREE NAUTICAL MILE LIMIT LINE to a point on the Virginia North Carolina state boundary, 36° 33 02.59 N, 75° 48 16.21 W; thence westerly to a point, along the Virginia North Carolina state boundary to its intersection with the mean low water line, 36° 33 01.34 N, 75° 52 03.06 W; thence northerly, following the mean low water line to the Rudee Inlet weir; thence easterly along the weir to the stone breakwater; thence following the stone breakwater to its northern most point; thence northerly to the mean low water line at the eastern most point of the stone jetty; thence northerly following the mean low water line to its intersection with the COLREG Line, 36° 55 38.50 N, 76° 00 20.32 W; thence southeasterly to a point, 36° 54 42.39 N, 75° 56 44.23, thence northeasterly to a point, 37° 06 45.00 N, 75° 52 05.00 W, said point being the point of beginning of this second area.
4VAC20-752-30. HARVEST RESTRICTIONS.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct commercial or recreational crabbing within Area 1 of the Virginia Blue Crab Sanctuary, from May 1 through September 15.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, harvest or possess crabs, for commercial purposes, from Area 2, from May 1 through September 15.
4VAC20-752-40. PENALTY.
As set forth in §28.2-903 of the Code of Virginia, any person violating any section of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and a second or subsequent violation of any provision of this chapter committed by the same person within 12 months of a prior violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
