WHAT/WHEN:

•             No person may trawl for brown, pink, or white shrimp in federal waters off Georgia.

•             The closure is effective 8:45 a.m., local time, 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.

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