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Notice is hereby given that Georgia’s territorial sea (extending from the sound-beach boundary out to the 3-mile limit) from the Georgia–South Carolina state boundary line in the vicinity of the Savannah River navigational channel south to the Georgia–Florida boundary will remain open to commercial shrimp trawling for human consumption from January 1, 2026, until 6:15 p.m. on January 15, 2026. Waters may be closed prior to then should biological or environmental conditions warrant such a closure.
As required by law, trawling vessels must employ an NMFS-approved turtle excluder device (TED) with the escape opening modified to exclude leatherback sea turtles in power-drawn nets. Notice is further given that food shrimpers utilizing trawl gear should check with both state and federal agencies to verify current requirements for bycatch reduction devices (BRD).
A portion of the Savannah River navigational channel between the north and south jetties and eastward of the buoy at the inner end of the jetties, southeast of Oyster Bed Island, R “24”, Fl 4 Sec, will also remain open to fishing with power-drawn nets for shrimp for human consumption effective January 1, 2026, until 6:15 p.m. on January 15, 2026. Waters may be closed prior to January 15 should biological or environmental conditions warrant such a closure. That area in Chatham County known as Estelle Beach will remain closed to commercial shrimping.
Notice is further given that the season for commercial and recreational cast netting and beach seining for shrimp for human consumption will be closed effective January 15, 2026, at 6:15 p.m. until July 15, 2026, unless reopened earlier through administrative order.
This action is taken in accordance with O.C.G.A. Sections 27-4-130 and 27-4-132, and 27-4-133, and the administrative order of the Commissioner of Natural Resources dated December 22, 2025.
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