- A. Any person desiring to take or catch finfish or shellfish for recreational purposes in the tidal waters of the Commonwealth using commercial gear authorized under § 28.2-226.2 shall first obtain the appropriate commercial gear license for recreational purposes. A license to use such gear for recreational purposes shall be issued to an individual for his exclusive use and shall not be transferable.
- B. All gear licenses issued for recreational purposes shall be so marked.
- C. Any person who has obtained a commercial gear license for recreational purposes only shall be exempt from the commercial fishing registration requirements of §§ 28.2-241 and 28.2-242.
- D. For purposes of this section and §§ 28.2-226.2 and 28.2-232, "recreational purposes" means finfish or shellfish taken for personal use and not sold, traded, bartered, or given to another in order to be sold, traded, or bartered.
- E. Holders of licenses under this section shall report catch and other data as is deemed necessary by the Commission for effective fisheries management.
- F. Any person who engages in an activity for which an exemption is provided in § 28.2-226, holds a saltwater recreational fishing license and uses a gear type listed in § 28.2-302.1, or is exempt from the requirements of obtaining a saltwater recreational license pursuant to subdivision A 11 of § 28.2-302.5 shall be exempt from the requirement of obtaining a commercial gear license for recreational purposes.
1993, c. 219; 2005, c. 124; 2015, c. 468; 2018, c. 118.