Virginia Administrative Code › Title 4 - CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES › Agency 20 - MARINE RESOURCES COMMISSION › Chapter 1230 - PERTAINING TO RESTRICTIONS ON SHELLFISH › Section 4VAC20-1230-20 - Definitions

Current through Register Vol. 40, No. 24, July 15, 2024
The following words and terms when used in this chapter shall
				  have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates
				  otherwise:
"Clam" means any shellfish of the species Mercenaria
				  mercenaria and genera Noetia and Anadara.
"Container" means any bag, box, sack, tote, or other
				  receptacle that contains shellfish to be held, in any type of conveyance, for
				  transport from the harvest area to the landing site and from the landing site
				  to the point of sale or other use.
"Conveyance" means any form of transport, such as a boat,
				  truck, or other vehicle, or trailer that is used to transport shellfish from
				  the harvest area to the landing site or from the landing site to a licensed
				  buyer or other use.
"Direct marketing"means any shellfish or shellstock that is
				  landed and sold without shucking or postharvest processing.
"Harvest" means the act of removing any shellfish or
				  shellstock from a designated harvest area and placing that shellfish or
				  shellstock in a container or on or in a conveyance.
"Harvest time" means the time from initial harvest to when
				  temperature control of that harvest is required. Harvest time begins once the
				  first harvested shellstock is no longer submerged and extends to the time that
				  any harvested shellstock is placed in Virginia Department of Health, Division
				  of Shellfish Sanitation-approved temperature controlled storage.
"Layer" means a single thickness or coating spread out and
				  covering an entire surface.
"Mechanical refrigeration" means storage in a container that
				  is approved by the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Shellfish
				  Sanitation and capable of cooling to and maintaining an ambient temperature of
				  45°F or less.
"Oyster" means any shellfish of the species Crassostrea
				  virginica .
"Restricted-use shellstock" means shellstock or shellfish
				  harvested from approved shellfish growing areas that shall not be sold for raw
				  consumption or directly marketed for raw consumption.
"Restricted-use shellstock tag" means a Virginia Marine
				  Resources Commission-issued green tag that shall only be used by a licensed
				  buyer who has a current certificate of inspection as a shucker packer for
				  shellstock or shellfish harvested from a single harvest area in any one day.
				  Use of any such tag indicates that shellstock is intended for further
				  processing prior to distribution to retail or food service.
"Seed clams" means any shellfish of the species Mercenaria
				  mercenaria that is less than 30 mm in shell length and more than six months
				  from harvest for human consumption.
"Seed oyster" means any oyster taken by any person from
				  natural beds, rocks, or shoals that is more than 30 days from harvest for human
				  consumption.
"Shading" means to shelter by intercepting the direct rays of
				  the sun to protect the shellfish from heat using a tarp or cover.
"Shellfish" or "shellstock" means all species of bivalve
				  molluscan shellfish.
"Shucker packer"means a person who shucks and packs shellfish
				  under a certificate of inspection issued by the Virginia Department of Health,
				  Division of Shellfish Sanitation.
"VDH-approved temperature controlled storage" means a
				  container or conveyance that is equipped with mechanical refrigeration capable
				  of maintaining 45°F or less or is continuously and completely covering
				  shellfish with a layer of ice, according to procedures approved by the Virginia
				  Department of Health, Division of Shellfish Sanitation.
Statutory Authority: § 28.2-201 of the Code of
					 Virginia.