Shellfish Management Division

• Shellfish Management Division Staff Contact (PDF)

• Shellfish Permit Forms
  Lease Grounds Permit Forms

• Lease Ground Estate Planning Guide (PDF)

What We Do

We manage the shellfish resources and shellfish harvest that occurs in Virginia’s tidal waters. This includes the management of the public oyster and clam grounds and those private grounds which are leased for the propagation of shellfish. We also process and issue all necessary permits related to commercial shellfish aquaculture activities.

The Shellfish Management Division coordinates on shellfish related matters with the other Divisions within the Agency and with numerous other entities and groups that may be involved in activities that pertain to Virginia’s shellfish resources or interests.

Engineering/Surveying Department

Within the Shellfish Management Division, the Engineering and Surveying Department is responsible for surveying and mapping subaqueous ground for public and private shellfish cultivation, leasing private shellfish grounds, and maintaining oyster ground lease records and maps

• VGP3s (Oyster Gardening Permit) (PDF)

• VGP4s (Suspended Aquaculture Cage Permit) (PDF)

• Joint Permit Application (JPA)

• Oyster Ground Lease Guidelines (PDF)

• Pending Oyster Lease Applications

• Pending Oyster Lease Transfers

Application for Oyster Ground Lease

If you are interested in selling your oyster lease to someone else or purchasing a lease from someone else, please click here.

If you would like to search a current lease, click here

Conservation/Replenishment Department

Within the Shellfish Management Division, the Conservation and Replenishment Department is tasked with the management and replenishment of the public oyster ground resources in Virginia to include setting yearly public grounds harvest seasons .

• Proper Shellfish Icing During Warm Water Harvest (external site)

• Oyster Resource User Fee

• Oyster Stock Assessment & Replenishment (external site)

• Oyster Regulations

• Public Oyster Season

• Guide to Buy/Sell Oysters (PDF)

• Warm Water Harvest Guide (PDF)

• Shellfish Permit Guide (PDF)

• Guide To Relaying Condemned Shellfish (PDF)

• Procurement Notices

Restoration Efforts

Blue Ribbon Oyster Panel

https://www.chesapeakebay.net/news/blog/the-worlds-largest-oyster-restoration-project-is-completed-in-virginia (external site)

https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/virginia/stories-in-virginia/oyster-restoration-in-va/ (external site)

https://www.virginiamercury.com/2021/11/30/worlds-largest-oyster-restoration-completed-on-piankatank-river/ (external site)