Fishing for Oysters and Clams; Device Restrictions

This is the 2025 edition of the code. There is not the current edition. Browse all editions.

This is Article 2 of the Code of Virginia, titled “Fishing for Oysters and Clams; Device Restrictions.” It is part of Chapter 5 “Oysters and Clams”, which is part of Subtitle II “Tidal Fisheries”, which is part of Title 28.2 “Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters”.

It’s comprised of the following 32 sections.

§ 28.2-506 Season for taking oysters from public rocks; penalty
§ 28.2-507 Opening and closing public rocks
§ 28.2-508 Prohibited area for patent tongs; penalty
§ 28.2-509 Maximum weight for patent tongs; teeth length; penalty
§ 28.2-510 Buying, selling, or possessing unculled oysters; penalty
§ 28.2-511 Culling oysters; penalty
§ 28.2-512 Interfering with oyster inspections; penalty
§ 28.2-513 Prima facie evidence of culling violation; defense
§ 28.2-514 Possession of shucked oysters; penalty
§ 28.2-515 Dredging or scraping on private ground; permit required
§ 28.2-516 Oyster dredging or oyster dredging equipment on boat; penalty
§ 28.2-517 Marking ground
§ 28.2-518 Dredging for oysters in James River; penalty
§ 28.2-519 Use of rakes or scrapes on ocean side of Eastern Shore; penalty
§ 28.2-520 Use of hydraulic dredges prohibited; exceptions; penalty
§ 28.2-521 Revocation of license or permit to dredge
§ 28.2-522 Prima facie evidence of violation
§ 28.2-523 Penalty
§ 28.2-524 Taking oysters or clams in certain areas; limitations
§ 28.2-525 Fishing in Chesapeake Bay immediately west of Tangier Island
§ 28.2-526 Oyster measures; standards; penalty
§ 28.2-527 Theft of oysters, clams, shells, etc.; penalty
§ 28.2-528 Revocation of licenses for theft of oysters
§ 28.2-529 Converting shells into lime; penalty
§ 28.2-530 Taking oysters or loading on vessel on Sunday or at night; penalty
§ 28.2-531 Taking clams on Sunday or at night; exception; penalty
§ 28.2-532 Protection of oysters and clams of Virginia; labeling; penalty
§ 28.2-533 Oysters on crab dredging boat; penalty
§ 28.2-534 Possession of oysters while taking clams; penalty
§ 28.2-535 Permit to buy or carry seed oysters from certain grounds; penalty
§ 28.2-536 Taking clams in certain areas; penalty
§ 28.2-537 Restriction on size of clams; penalty