Federal Waters Off Georgia Closed to All Fishing for Brown, Pink, and White Shrimp

• No person may trawl for brown, pink, or white shrimp in federal waters off Georgia.
• The closure is effective January 24, 2018.
• NOAA Fisheries will issue a new Fishery Bulletin announcing the re-opening to shrimp harvest in federal waters off Georgia.

Why This Closure is Happening:

• The purpose of the closure is to protect the white shrimp spawning population.
• Georgia closed its state waters to all shrimping on January 15, 2018, due to a prolonged period of water temperatures at or below 9°C in the region.
• Georgia requested NOAA Fisheries to close federal waters off Georgia.

During the Closure:

• Possession of brown, pink, or white shrimp is prohibited on board a vessel in federal waters off Georgia unless the vessel is in transit through the area and all nets with a mesh size of less than four inches, as measured between the centers of opposite knots when pulled taut, are stowed below deck.
• Any vessel trawling within 25 nautical miles seaward from the Georgia shoreline must use trawl nets with a minimum mesh size of four inches or greater.

This bulletin provides only a summary of the existing regulations.  Full regulations can be found in the Federal Register.