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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>356683</law_id><section_number>28.2-535</section_number><catch_line>Permit to buy or carry seed oysters from certain grounds; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><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 id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It is unlawful for any person to buy or carry oysters from the eastern side of the Counties of Accomack and Northampton or from the <span class="dictionary">James River seed area</span>, whose shells measure less than three inches in length without first obtaining a permit. A permit shall be required for each boat, vessel, or motor vehicle used to carry such cargo. The applicant shall obtain the permit from the <span class="dictionary">officer</span> assigned to the district where the cargo is loaded. The permit shall state the name and tonnage of the boat, vessel, motor vehicle, or other conveyance; the name of the owner and captain; the destination of the oysters; and the identity of the permit applicant. The cargo may be loaded under the supervision of the <span class="dictionary">officer</span>, in the <span class="dictionary">order</span> of the presentation of the permit to the <span class="dictionary">officer</span> in the district in which the boat, vessel, motor vehicle, or other conveyance is to obtain its cargo. <a id="paragraph-1327830" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-535/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any such permittee who takes seed oysters to a place not specified in his permit and does not notify the <span class="dictionary">Commissioner</span> within twenty-four hours of the change in planting location is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. The owner or captain of any boat, vessel, motor vehicle, or other conveyance found buying or carrying seed oysters from these public grounds without a permit is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-1327831" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-535/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 28-111; 1954, c. 447; 1962, c. 406, &#xA7; 28.1-97; 1966, c. 642; 1992, c. 836.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
