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The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has extended the state’s commercial and recreational food shrimp season through 6:15 p.m. Jan. 15, 2026, following an administrative order issued by DNR Commissioner Walter Rabon.
The extension applies to Georgia’s territorial waters, which extend three nautical miles offshore on the seaward side of the sounds, from the Georgia-Florida state line north to the Georgia-South Carolina state line. The current shrimping season originally opened on June 10.
The decision to extend the season was based on biological sampling, fisheries data, and recommendations from the Shrimp Advisory Panel, which advised that shrimp size and availability remain favorable for harvest, particularly offshore.
“Sampling continues to show shrimp meeting size thresholds, and the advisory panel agreed that conditions support a short extension into mid-January,” said Eddie Leonard, the lead biologist on the Ecological Monitoring Trawl Survey conducted by DNR’s Coastal Resources Division (CRD). “This approach balances economic opportunity for shrimpers while remaining consistent with sound fisheries management and conservation principles.”
Panel members noted that shrimp currently being harvested are larger, high-value shrimp, and that smaller shrimp are not being targeted due to low market value. Several panelists emphasized that colder temperatures naturally reduce effort in the recreational fishery and that weather conditions often regulate activity without the need for early closures.
Under the administrative order:
- Power-drawn trawling for food shrimp will remain open in designated offshore waters through 6:15 p.m. Jan. 15, 2026.
- The Estelle Beach area will remain closed to trawling.
- Trawls with headropes longer than 16 feet must be equipped with certified turtle excluder devices (TEDs) and bycatch reduction devices (BRDs) to protect sea turtles and other non-target species.
- All state salt waters will close to commercial and recreational food shrimp harvest using cast nets and seines at 6:15 p.m. Jan. 15, 2026, and will remain closed until reopened by administrative order.
The Shrimp Advisory Panel also acknowledged that sudden cold snaps or changes in shrimp size could prompt an earlier closure if conditions warrant.
CRD continues to monitor shrimp populations, landings, and environmental conditions throughout the season to ensure long-term sustainability of the fishery.
For updates on shrimp season openings and closures, visit CoastalGaDNR.org, sign up for news alerts, or follow “Georgia DNR - Coastal Resources Division” on Facebook and Instagram.
About the Coastal Resources Division
The mission of the Coastal Resources Division is to balance coastal development and protection of the coast's natural assets, socio-cultural heritage and recreational resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
Media Contact
Tyler Jones
Public Information Officer
Coastal Resources Division
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
tyler.jones@dnr.ga.gov
912-230-9709
