{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/28.2-707.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/28.2-707.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/28.2-707.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/28.2-707.html"}],"law_id":356771,"edition_id":2,"section_id":356771,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-707","catch_line":"Restrictions on crab dredging; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 28-171; 1960, c. 517; 1962, c. 406, \u00a7 28.1-166; 1981, c. 52; 1983, c. 603, \u00a7 28.1-165.1; 1992, cc. 122, 836; 1994, c. 492; 1996, c. 433.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful for any boat licensed to dredge crabs to use more than two dredges at any time when dredging for crabs. Such boat may use only one dredge on each side of the boat or join two dredges together for use over the stern of the boat. The size of dredges shall not exceed limits established by the Commission. The Commission is authorized to promulgate regulations limiting the size of dredges.\n\nB\n\nIt is unlawful to dislodge crabs from the bottom with a crab dredge using hydraulic methods.\n\nC\n\nIt is unlawful to use a crab dredge on Saturday.\n\nD\n\nIt is unlawful to use a dredge for catching crabs between April 1 and December 1; however, the Commission, when in its judgment it is advisable due to weather conditions or for purposes relating to the conservation of the blue crab and it is not contrary to the public interest, may close a season in its entirety, may open any season as early as November 16, may delay opening any season, may extend any season until April 16 and may close any season early.\n\nE\n\nIt is unlawful to use dredges to take crabs in any of the rivers, or their estuaries, inlets, or creeks, except on the ocean side of Accomack and Northampton Counties.\n\t\t\tAny person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1328028,"text":"It is unlawful for any boat licensed to dredge crabs to use more than two dredges at any time when dredging for crabs. Such boat may use only one dredge on each side of the boat or join two dredges together for use over the stern of the boat. The size of dredges shall not exceed limits established by the Commission. The Commission is authorized to promulgate regulations limiting the size of dredges.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1328029,"text":"It is unlawful to dislodge crabs from the bottom with a crab dredge using hydraulic methods.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":1328030,"text":"It is unlawful to use a crab dredge on Saturday.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":1328031,"text":"It is unlawful to use a dredge for catching crabs between April 1 and December 1; however, the Commission, when in its judgment it is advisable due to weather conditions or for purposes relating to the conservation of the blue crab and it is not contrary to the public interest, may close a season in its entirety, may open any season as early as November 16, may delay opening any season, may extend any season until April 16 and may close any season early.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":1328032,"text":"It is unlawful to use dredges to take crabs in any of the rivers, or their estuaries, inlets, or creeks, except on the ocean side of Accomack and Northampton Counties.\n\t\t\tAny person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D"}},"ancestry":[{"id":51061,"edition_id":2,"name":"Restrictions on Harvesting Crabs","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":3,"parent_id":51058,"metadata":{"child_laws":9,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:46","permalink":{"id":1418727,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51061,"identifier":"3","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3","url":"\/28.2\/II\/7\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51058,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crabs","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":6,"parent_id":50998,"metadata":{"child_laws":14,"child_structures":3},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:36:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:31:45","permalink":{"id":1418701,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51058,"identifier":"7","token":"28.2\/II\/7","url":"\/28.2\/II\/7\/","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":356769,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-705","catch_line":"License restrictions; exemption; penalty","url":"\/28.2-705\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-705","metadata":false},{"id":356770,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-706","catch_line":"Restrictions on crab scraping; penalty","url":"\/28.2-706\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-706","metadata":false},{"id":356771,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-707","catch_line":"Restrictions on crab dredging; penalty","url":"\/28.2-707\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-707","metadata":false},{"id":356772,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-708","catch_line":"Limitations on sizes of crabs to be taken; inspection of catch; exemption; penalty","url":"\/28.2-708\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-708","metadata":false},{"id":356773,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-709","catch_line":"Closed season for taking crabs in certain area; penalty","url":"\/28.2-709\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-709","metadata":false},{"id":356774,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-710","catch_line":"Unlawful to place crab, eel, or fish pots in certain channels; penalty","url":"\/28.2-710\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-710","metadata":false},{"id":356775,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-711","catch_line":"Crab pots; unlawful activities; penalty","url":"\/28.2-711\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-711","metadata":false},{"id":356776,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-712","catch_line":"Identification of crab pots and eel pots; penalty","url":"\/28.2-712\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-712","metadata":false},{"id":356777,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-713","catch_line":"Limiting the taking of crabs by one boat in one day; penalty","url":"\/28.2-713\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-713","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":356770,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-706","catch_line":"Restrictions on crab scraping; penalty","url":"\/28.2-706\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-706","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":356772,"structure_id":51061,"section_number":"28.2-708","catch_line":"Limitations on sizes of crabs to be taken; inspection of catch; exemption; penalty","url":"\/28.2-708\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-708","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/28.2-707\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 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 1960, chapter 517; in 1962, chapter 406; in 1981, chapter 52; in 1983, chapter 603; in 1992, chapters 122 and 836; in 1994, chapter 492<\/a>; in 1996, chapter 433<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1418737,"object_type":"law","relational_id":356771,"identifier":"28.2-707","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-707","url":"\/28.2-707\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/28.2-707\/","token":"28.2\/II\/7\/3\/28.2-707","dublin_core":{"Title":"Restrictions on crab dredging; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 28.2-707","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful for any boat licensed to dredge crabs to use more than two dredges at any time when dredging for crabs. Such boat may use only one dredge on each side of the boat or join two dredges together for use over the stern of the boat. The size of dredges shall not exceed limits established by the Commission<\/span>. The Commission<\/span> is authorized to promulgate regulations limiting the size of dredges. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is unlawful to dislodge crabs from the bottom with a crab dredge<\/span> using hydraulic methods. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> It is unlawful to use a crab dredge<\/span> on Saturday. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> It is unlawful to use a dredge for catching crabs between April 1 and December 1; however, the Commission<\/span>, when in its judgment<\/span> it is advisable due to weather conditions or for purposes relating to the conservation of the blue crab and it is not contrary to the public interest, may close a season in its entirety, may open any season as early as November 16, may delay opening any season, may extend any season until April 16 and may close any season early. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> It is unlawful to use dredges to take crabs in any of the rivers, or their estuaries, inlets, or creeks, except on the ocean side of Accomack and Northampton Counties.\n\t\t\tAny person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nRESTRICTIONS ON CRAB DREDGING; PENALTY (\u00a7 28.2-707)\n\nA. It is unlawful for any boat licensed to dredge crabs to use more than two\ndredges at any time when dredging for crabs. Such boat may use only one dredge\non each side of the boat or join two dredges together for use over the stern of\nthe boat. The size of dredges shall not exceed limits established by the\nCommission. The Commission is authorized to promulgate regulations limiting the\nsize of dredges.\n\nB. It is unlawful to dislodge crabs from the bottom with a crab dredge using\nhydraulic methods.\n\nC. It is unlawful to use a crab dredge on Saturday.\n\nD. It is unlawful to use a dredge for catching crabs between April 1 and\nDecember 1; however, the Commission, when in its judgment it is advisable due to\nweather conditions or for purposes relating to the conservation of the blue crab\nand it is not contrary to the public interest, may close a season in its\nentirety, may open any season as early as November 16, may delay opening any\nseason, may extend any season until April 16 and may close any season early.\n\nE. It is unlawful to use dredges to take crabs in any of the rivers, or their\nestuaries, inlets, or creeks, except on the ocean side of Accomack and\nNorthampton Counties.\n\t\t\tAny person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 3\nmisdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 28-171; 1960, c. 517; 1962, c. 406, \u00a7 28.1-166; 1981, c.\n52; 1983, c. 603, \u00a7 28.1-165.1; 1992, cc. 122, 836; 1994, c. 492; 1996, c. 433.","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"}}