WHAT/WHEN:
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No person may trawl for brown, pink, or white shrimp in federal waters off Georgia.
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The closure is effective, January 24, 2018.
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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
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The purpose of the closure is to protect the white shrimp spawning population.
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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.
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Georgia requested NOAA Fisheries to close federal waters off Georgia.
DURING THE CLOSURE:
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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.
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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.
Source: South Atlantic Fishery Management Council