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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>356769</law_id><section_number>28.2-705</section_number><catch_line>License restrictions; exemption; 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="6" identifier="7">Crabs</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="3" identifier="3">Restrictions on Harvesting Crabs</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It is unlawful to: <a id="paragraph-1328018" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-705/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Take crabs with a rake which is pulled or pushed by a boat; <a id="paragraph-1328019" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-705/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Use a <span class="dictionary">crab pot</span> which has a mesh less than 1 1/2 inches, unless a different mesh size is promulgated pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Crab traps, crab pots and crab pounds; regulations; penalty" href="/28.2-701/">28.2-701</a>; <a id="paragraph-1328020" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-705/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Place food, except as may be provided for in regulations of the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span>, for adult male (jimmy) crabs in a <span class="dictionary">peeler pot</span>. A <span class="dictionary">peeler pot</span> is exempt from mesh size limitations, unless a <span class="dictionary">peeler pot</span> mesh size is promulgated pursuant to subsection B of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Crab traps, crab pots and crab pounds; regulations; penalty" href="/28.2-701/">28.2-701</a>; <a id="paragraph-1328021" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-705/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Use a boat when buying crabs which is also used to take or catch hard crabs with dredges, when the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> has limited the taking of crabs under &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Limiting the taking of crabs by one boat in one day; penalty" href="/28.2-713/">28.2-713</a>. <a id="paragraph-1328022" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-705/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-1328023" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/28.2-705/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 28-170; 1954, c. 368; 1956, c. 293; 1960, c. 517; 1962, c. 406, &#xA7; 28.1-165; 1964, c. 393; 1966, c. 684; 1968, c. 785; 1970, c. 726; 1979, c. 274; 1983, cc. 307, 603; 1985, c. 180; 1990, c. 154; 1992, c. 836; 1995, c. 129; 1998, c. 88; 1999, c. 550.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
