{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/28.2-309.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/28.2-309.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/28.2-309.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/28.2-309.html"}],"law_id":356623,"edition_id":2,"section_id":356623,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-309","catch_line":"Distance nets may extend across body of water or channel; prohibition; regulations; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 28-47; 1950, p. 981; 1962, c. 406, \u00a7 28.1-53; 1968, c. 748; 1990, c. 212; 1991, c. 683; 1992, c. 836.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful to set or fish any net or nets across any river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which are longer than one-fourth the width of the body of water from mean low water to mean low water at the point where the net or nets are set or fished.\n\nB\n\nIt is unlawful to set or fish any net, other than a menhaden net, in any portion of a marked channel of a river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which has navigation aids installed or approved by any agency of government. However, the prohibitions and restrictions on setting nets contained in this subsection shall not apply to any net set on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton. The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate regulations governing the setting of any net on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton.\n\nC\n\nIt shall be unlawful to set or fish any net which is a hazard to navigation.\n\nD\n\nAny person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1327675,"text":"It is unlawful to set or fish any net or nets across any river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which are longer than one-fourth the width of the body of water from mean low water to mean low water at the point where the net or nets are set or fished.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1327676,"text":"It is unlawful to set or fish any net, other than a menhaden net, in any portion of a marked channel of a river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which has navigation aids installed or approved by any agency of government. However, the prohibitions and restrictions on setting nets contained in this subsection shall not apply to any net set on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton. The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate regulations governing the setting of any net on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1327677,"text":"It shall be unlawful to set or fish any net which is a hazard to navigation.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1327678,"text":"Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51043,"edition_id":2,"name":"Taking of Fish, Net, and Device Restrictions","identifier":"2","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":3,"parent_id":51040,"metadata":{"child_laws":11,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:24","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:44","permalink":{"id":1418083,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51043,"identifier":"2","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2","url":"\/28.2\/II\/3\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51040,"edition_id":2,"name":"Finfish","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50998,"metadata":{"child_laws":34,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:22","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:43","permalink":{"id":1418009,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51040,"identifier":"3","token":"28.2\/II\/3","url":"\/28.2\/II\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50998,"edition_id":2,"name":"Tidal Fisheries","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":2,"parent_id":50994,"metadata":{"child_laws":289,"child_structures":42},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:05","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:42","permalink":{"id":1417675,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50998,"identifier":"II","token":"28.2\/II","url":"\/28.2\/II\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50994,"edition_id":2,"name":"Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters","identifier":"28.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":70,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":386,"child_structures":71},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:05","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:41","permalink":{"id":1417591,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50994,"identifier":"28.2","token":"28.2","url":"\/28.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":356617,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-303","catch_line":"Taking and sale of sturgeon prohibited; penalty","url":"\/28.2-303\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-303","metadata":false},{"id":356618,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-304","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/28.2-304\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-304","metadata":false},{"id":356619,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-305","catch_line":"Size of mesh and length and depth of certain nets; penalty","url":"\/28.2-305\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-305","metadata":false},{"id":356620,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-306","catch_line":"Use of certain fishing devices in certain waters; penalty","url":"\/28.2-306\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-306","metadata":false},{"id":356621,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-307","catch_line":"Length of fixed fishing device; gill nets; penalty","url":"\/28.2-307\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-307","metadata":false},{"id":356622,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-308","catch_line":"Setting of gill nets in oceanfront; penalty","url":"\/28.2-308\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-308","metadata":false},{"id":356623,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-309","catch_line":"Distance nets may extend across body of water or channel; prohibition; regulations; penalty","url":"\/28.2-309\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-309","metadata":false},{"id":356624,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-310","catch_line":"Trotline prohibited on ocean side of Eastern Shore; penalty","url":"\/28.2-310\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-310","metadata":false},{"id":356625,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-311","catch_line":"Chickahominy River in Charles City; penalty","url":"\/28.2-311\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-311","metadata":false},{"id":356626,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-312","catch_line":"Rappahannock River and certain of its tributaries; penalty","url":"\/28.2-312\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-312","metadata":false},{"id":356627,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-313","catch_line":"Killing fish by means of explosives, drugs, or poisons; possession; penalty","url":"\/28.2-313\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-313","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":356622,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-308","catch_line":"Setting of gill nets in oceanfront; penalty","url":"\/28.2-308\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-308","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":356624,"structure_id":51043,"section_number":"28.2-310","catch_line":"Trotline prohibited on ocean side of Eastern Shore; penalty","url":"\/28.2-310\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-310","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/28.2-309\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1962, chapter 406; in 1968, chapter 748; in 1990, chapter 212; in 1991, chapter 683; in 1992, chapter 836.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1418109,"object_type":"law","relational_id":356623,"identifier":"28.2-309","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-309","url":"\/28.2-309\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/28.2-309\/","token":"28.2\/II\/3\/2\/28.2-309","dublin_core":{"Title":"Distance nets may extend across body of water or channel; prohibition; regulations; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 28.2-309","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful to set or fish<\/span> any net or nets across any river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which are longer than one-fourth the width of the body of water from mean low water to mean low water at the point where the net or nets are set or fished. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is unlawful to set or fish<\/span> any net, other than a menhaden net, in any portion of a marked channel of a river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which has navigation aids installed or approved by any agency of government. However, the prohibitions and restrictions on setting nets contained in this subsection shall not apply to any net set on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton. The Commission<\/span> shall have the authority to promulgate regulations governing the setting of any net on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It shall be unlawful to set or fish<\/span> any net which is a hazard to navigation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDISTANCE NETS MAY EXTEND ACROSS BODY OF WATER OR CHANNEL; PROHIBITION;\nREGULATIONS; PENALTY (\u00a7 28.2-309)\n\nA. It is unlawful to set or fish any net or nets across any river, bay, estuary,\ncreek, or inlet which are longer than one-fourth the width of the body of water\nfrom mean low water to mean low water at the point where the net or nets are set\nor fished.\n\nB. It is unlawful to set or fish any net, other than a menhaden net, in any\nportion of a marked channel of a river, bay, estuary, creek, or inlet which has\nnavigation aids installed or approved by any agency of government. However, the\nprohibitions and restrictions on setting nets contained in this subsection shall\nnot apply to any net set on the eastern or ocean side of the Counties of\nAccomack and Northampton. The Commission shall have the authority to promulgate\nregulations governing the setting of any net on the eastern or ocean side of the\nCounties of Accomack and Northampton.\n\nC. It shall be unlawful to set or fish any net which is a hazard to navigation.\n\nD. Any person who violates the provisions of this section is guilty of a Class 3\nmisdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 28-47; 1950, p. 981; 1962, c. 406, \u00a7 28.1-53; 1968, c.\n748; 1990, c. 212; 1991, c. 683; 1992, c. 836.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}