4 Va. Admin. Code § 20-310-30 - On-bottom container construction

A. On-bottom container size shall not exceed four feet by four feet by one foot.

B. On-bottom containers shall not be solid walled, but shall be constructed of a mesh material of sufficient size not to restrict water flow.

1. Mesh size shall not be less than one inch measured diagonally across the longest axis of square, rectangular, or diamond shaped mesh nor less than one-inch diameter for circular mesh.

2. Construction material shall be nontoxic and not retard shellfish pumping rates.

3. On-bottom containers shall be frequently cleaned and maintained in such a manner that fouling does not accumulate to the degree that water flow through the on-bottom container is impeded or fill line markers are obscured.

C. On-bottom container height (excluding any legs or skids) shall be no greater than 12 inches. The on-bottom container shall be marked permanently on the inside surface supporting the shellfish at the six-inch level (measured from the bottom) around the entire circumference of the cage in such manner as to be clearly visible.

D. Each container, as described in subsection A of this section, shall be fitted with skids or legs to hold the on-bottom container off the bottom and constructed in a manner that will not restrict water flow under the container.

1. Skids shall be no smaller than four inches by four inches; legs shall be no shorter than four inches.

2. Skids or legs may be larger to ensure that the container does not rest on the bottom, but cannot be so large as to place the container at a depth that could constitute a hazard to navigation.

E. Access to each container shall be designed so that it can be secured with a standard Marine Resources Commission seal so that the container cannot be opened without breaking the seal.

Notes

4 Va. Admin. Code § 20-310-30

Derived from VR450-01-0042 § 3, eff. April 1, 1987; amended, Virginia Register Volume 6, Issue 25, eff. August 1, 1990; Volume 11, Issue 22, eff. July 1, 1995; Volume 16, Issue 19, eff. May 15, 2000.

Statutory Authority

§ 28.2-201 of the Code of Virginia.