Commissioner Mark Williams has announced that Georgia's food shrimp harvest season will close at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2013. This closure affects all food shrimp harvesting activities, including commercial trawling, commercial and recreational food shrimp cast netting, and shrimp seining on the beaches. Anglers and commercial bait shrimp dealers can still harvest shrimp for use as bait. Food shrimp season automatically closes on December 31 unless extended by action of the Commissioner of Natural Resources.
“During December, our coast wide trawl survey showed white shrimp abundance well below the long-term average. Therefore, based on our data and input from the Shrimp Advisory Panel, we recommend the food shrimp season close at the end of the month,” explained Jim Page, marine biologist with the Coastal Resources Division.
“Food shrimp is the most valuable component of Georgia’s seafood industry. Thus far during the 2013 season slightly over 1 million pounds has been reported with a value of around $5 million. White shrimp caught during the September through December period typically accounts for over 50% of the annual harvest of food shrimp. The low abundance of white shrimp this autumn means harvesters and associated businesses will see less income than in typical years,” explained Page.
For more information on the closing of the food shrimp season, please contact the Coastal Resources Division office at (912) 264-7218.
Source: Georgia Department of Natural Resources
