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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>356655</law_id><section_number>28.2-507</section_number><catch_line>Opening and closing public rocks</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>28.2-506</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="70" identifier="28.2">Fisheries and Habitat of the Tidal Waters</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="2" identifier="II">Tidal Fisheries</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="4" 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><p>The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, in <span class="dictionary">order</span> to protect or promote the growth of oysters, may (i) close and open any area or restrict the manner or method of taking oysters in any area of the public rocks, grounds, or <span class="dictionary">shoals</span>, (ii) establish seed beds and plant shells and other culch, or (iii) take any other restorative measures. Before closing any such area, an <span class="dictionary">officer</span> shall post notice of the closing for at least 30 days in two or more public places in the district in which the area is located. Such notice requirement shall not apply to those public rocks closed by the Virginia Department of Health or state replenishment programs. In addition, when the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> finds it necessary, the area may be marked by a uniform system of buoys or signs indicating that such area is closed and that oystering by any means is prohibited. Any area which has been closed and reopened at a later time may be closed by the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> or <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> at any time without notice.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 28-98.1; 1956, c. 313; 1962, c. 406, &#xA7; 28.1-85; 1981, c. 52; 1992, c. 836; 1996, c. 842; 2011, c. 221.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
