Commercial Fishing in Virginia

• Transferring Commercial Licenses (PDF)

• Estate Planning Guide (PDF)

Report Your Commercial Harvest Online

Laws and Regulations

• The Code of Virginia (external site)

• Finfish Regulations

• Blue Crab Regulations

• Oyster Regulations

• Shellfish Regulations

Commercial News and Info

• Upcoming Agency Meetings

• NMFS Info on Federal Fisheries (external site)

• Watermen's Internship Program

• Tautog Tagging

• Commercial Harvest Data Requests

• NMFS Commercial Landings Statistics (external site)

Agency News - Recent regulatory actions, commercial fishery opening and closing announcements, and other Commission news.

Pound Net Siting Public Notices - Opportunities for public comment on new pound net locations requested by commercial fishermen.

Watermen's Associations - A list of watermen's associations in Virginia.

Summer Flounder Commercial Notices (PDF) - Notices of open periods and landing limits for the Virginia Directed Offshore Summer Flounder Fishery.

Menhaden Memorandum of Understanding (PDF) - An MOU between the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Virginia Menhaden Purse Seine Fisheries.

VA Marine Products Board (external site) - Oversees the development, promotion, and sustainable management of Virginia's seafood industry to support local fishermen and coastal communities.

Commercial Fishing Licenses, Permits, and Registration

• License List and Fees

• Where to Buy Licenses

• Update Your Email or Phone Number

• Entering or Exiting the Commercial Fishery

• Commercial License Advertisements

• Forms and Applications

More Information

Special Permit and Limited Entry Requirements - Commercial fishing related to certain species, gear types, and fishing areas require special permits or eligibility. Click here for eligibility requirements and staff contact information.

Fixed Fishing Device Licensing - Licensing information related to pound nets, staked gill nets, fyke nets, and crab pound nets and traps.

Estate Planning for Commercial Licenses - How to transfer commercial fishing licenses after the death of a loved one.

Mandatory Harvest Reporting

Online Commercial Harvest Reporting

New! Submit a vessel to use for reporting & licensing.

If you have questions about harvest reporting or to have paper forms mailed to you, please contact Mandatory Harvest Reporting staff directly at MHR@mrc.virginia.gov or call 1-800-937-9247 or 757-247-2241

Staff at the Mathews Memorial Library can assist you with reporting online. See information below: Greg S. Lewis Head, Technical Services Mathews Memorial Library Phone: 804-725-5747 Email: greglewis@mathewslibrary.org Address: 251 Main Street Mathews, VA Hours of operation: Mon-Fri (9am-5pm); Sat (10am-2pm); Sun (1pm-3pm)

Commercial Blue Crab Information

• Blue Crab Regulations

• Seasons, Bushel Limits, and Time of Day (external site)

• Sanctuary Map

• License Transfer, Agent, and Alt Hours Forms

• Crab Pot Buoy Marking

• Buy or Sell Crabbing Licenses

More Useful Information

Virginia Stranding Team Hotline (external site) - (757) 385-7575
If you encounter a stranded, injured, or entangled sea turtle or marine mammal, call the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Team. Do not approach the animal.

Harmful Algal Bloom Hotline (external site) - (888) 238-6154
To report a potentially harmful algae bloom, call the Virginia Department of Health or report online (external site).

CDC Commercial Fishing Workplace Safety (external site)
Safety tips, statistics, and resources on commercial fishing workplace hazards from The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

National Fisherman News (external site)
A national news publication about the US commercial fishing industry