16-93-MMS| December 30, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced Friday that several fishing seasons will open Jan. 1, 2017.   The commercial fishing seasons for Flounder and Red Drum will open at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1, in Mississippi territorial waters.   The total allowable catch for commercial

16-92-CWS | December 29, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced Thursday that all waters north of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) in Mississippi territorial waters will be closed to shrimping at 12:01 a.m. January 1, 2017.   All regulations set forth in Mississippi State Statute and titles of the

16-91-MMS| December 21, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is opposed to proposals by NOAA Fisheries that would increase shark regulations for recreational and commercial fishermen.   NOAA is proposing that recreational and commercial fishermen be required to complete an online shark identification and fishing regulation training course. They also would

16-90-MMS| December 20, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced that oyster areas in the western portion of the Mississippi Sound were closed to dredging as of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20.   The Commission on Marine Resources voted at its Dec. 13 meeting to open the areas for

16-89-MMS| December 16, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – NOAA Fisheries will hold a public hearing in January in Biloxi to discuss a proposal that would require the use of Turtle Excluder Devices in skimmer trawls.   NOAA’s proposal includes withdrawing the alternative tow time restriction and requiring skimmer trawls, pusherhead trawls and wing nets (butterfly trawls)

16-88-MMS| December 13, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Commission on Marine Resources voted unanimously at its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13, to approve increasing the minimum size of Spotted Seatrout to 15 inches.   The vote also included allowing no Spotted Seatrout take for charter captains and crew.   The new regulation will go into

16-87-MMS| December 12, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources’ 2017 Marine Information Calendars now are available at locations along the Coast.   This year, for the first time, the agency held a photo contest, and those chosen are featured each month, as well as on photo pages in the back of

16-86-MMS| December 9, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – The state Commission on Marine Resources will meet Tuesday, December 13, in Biloxi. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. and will be held at the Bolton State Building in the first-floor auditorium. An agenda is attached. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving

16-85-MMS| December 8, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources will conduct a prescribed burn on Deer Island on Friday, Dec. 9.   Depending on weather conditions, the burn will begin between 10 a.m. and noon and last up to four hours; however, some of the trees could smolder for

16-84-MMS| November 20, 2016 BILOXI, Miss. – Oyster reefs in the Biloxi Bay were closed Wednesday, Nov. 30, because of poor water samples, officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources said.   Area V “A” includes the Biloxi Bay Reef and the Shearwater Reef, which was open only to tonging.   The reefs opened