Trawl nets and drag nets prohibited; exception; license fee; penalty
Va. Code Ann. § 28.2-314
in effectA. It is unlawful for any person (i) to take or catch fish, shellfish, or marine organisms with a trawl net, drag net, or similar device drawn through the waters by a vessel, boat, or other craft or (ii) to buy, sell, or offer for sale any fish taken or caught in the waters of the Commonwealth, or under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth, with a trawl net, drag net, or similar device. However, the Commission may issue licenses or permits to take or catch fish, shellfish, or marine organisms with a trawl net, drag net, or similar device within the three-mile limit of the Virginia Atlantic shoreline for the shrimp and horseshoe crab fisheries.
B. The license or permit fee to fish with a trawl net, drag net, or similar device pursuant to subsection A shall be $100 or as subsequently revised by the Commission pursuant to § 28.2-201 for each boat so employed.
C. A violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Code 1950, § 28-68; 1962, c. 406, § 28.1-67; 1973, c. 119; 1979, c. 18; 1992, c. 836; 2025, cc. 13 , 18 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/28.2-314/Fetched: 10/16/2026