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Marine Resources Commission adopts SMAC-recommended oyster seasons and related rule changes
Summary
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Oct. 2025 adopted the Shellfish Management Advisory Committee’s recommended 2025–26 public oyster harvest seasons and related conservation and gear‑definition changes, including allowing mechanically assisted hand tongs for harvest of clean oysters and a narrow hardship exception for user‑fee transfers.
The Virginia Marine Resources Commission on Oct. 2025 voted to adopt the Shellfish Management Advisory Committee’s recommended public oyster harvest seasons and related conservation measures for 2025–26, including allowing mechanically assisted hand tongs for harvest of clean‑market oysters and an administrative exception process for oyster user‑fee transfers in hardship cases. Associate Member AJ Headley moved to adopt the recommended amendments; the motion passed after debate. The commission later approved related nomenclature and administrative language edits to align chapter references.
SMAC and staff reported that the recommendations are informed by the agency’s joint stock assessments with the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) and by SMAC’s July and August…
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