WHAT/WHEN:
- No person may trawl for brown, pink, or white shrimp in federal waters off South Carolina.
- The closure is effective 4:15 p.m., local time, January 17, 2018.
- NOAA Fisheries will issue a new Fishery Bulletin announcing the re-opening to shrimp harvest in federal waters off South Carolina.
WHY THIS CLOSURE IS HAPPENING:
- The purpose of the closure is to protect the white shrimp spawning population.
- South Carolina closed its state waters to all shrimping on January 10, 2018, due to a prolonged period of water temperatures at or below 9°C in the region.
- South Carolina requested NOAA Fisheries to close federal waters off South Carolina.
DURING THE CLOSURE:
- Possession of brown, pink, or white shrimp is prohibited on board a vessel in federal waters off South Carolina 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.
- Any vessel trawling within 25 nautical miles seaward from the South Carolina 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: NOAA Fisheries Service