By virtue of the authority vested in the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR), under the provisions of §49-15- 64.1 (2) Mississippi Code of 1972 Annotated, the MDMR, after having conducted an extensive sampling program, does hereby declare and order that: The 2023-2024 Mississippi Shrimp Season Shall Open at 6:00 a.m. Monday, May 22, 2023, in Mississippi Waters described as:
All waters south of a line beginning one-half mile offshore at the Mississippi-Alabama state line; thence westerly following the meandering of the shoreline one-half mile therefrom to Light “5” in the Bayou Casotte Channel; thence northerly to Light “7” in the Bayou Casotte Channel; thence westerly following the meandering of the shoreline one-half mile therefrom to the intersection with the Pascagoula Channel; thence northwesterly to Beacon “50” in the Pascagoula Channel; thence southwesterly to Beacon “49” in the Pascagoula Channel; thence to the northeast point of Singing River Island located south of Ingalls West Bank Shipyard; thence westerly along the north shoreline to the northwest point of the island; thence northwesterly in the most direct line to a point one-half mile due south of the mouth of Graveline Bayou; thence westerly following the meandering of the shoreline one-half mile therefrom to a point due east of Beacon “18” in the Biloxi Bay Channel; thence due west to said Beacon ”18″ in the Biloxi Bay Channel and thence southwesterly along the most direct line to the southernmost point on Deer Island; thence westerly following the north shore of Deer Island to the westernmost tip; thence westerly in the most direct line to Biloxi Beacon “8”; thence westerly following the meandering of the shoreline at a distance of one-half mile therefrom to a point on the centerline of the CSX Railroad Bridge over St. Louis Bay; thence westerly along the centerline of said bridge to a point one-half mile south of the western abutment of the CSX Railroad Bridge; thence southwesterly following the meandering of the shoreline at a distance ofone-halfmile therefrom to a point one-half mile east of the mouth of Bayou Caddy; thence westerly to the mouth of Bayou Caddy; thence southwesterly following the meandering of the shoreline to the Mississippi-Louisiana state line; and
All waters south of a line beginning at the southernmost point of the Mississippi shoreline on the east bank of the Pearl River, thence, following the meandering of the east bank of the Pearl River to a point where the Pearl River intersects the centerline of the Highway 90 bridge; thence running westerly along the center line of the Highway 90 bridge to a point that intersects the Mississippi – Louisiana state boundary.
MDMR staff continues to monitor shrimp size and if during routine shrimp sampling, there is an indication that a large number of juvenile brown shrimp move into this area; the shrimp season opening date may be postponed. All rules set forth in regulations of the MDMR are to be in full force and effect and all boats engaged in catching or transporting shrimp from the waters of the state of Mississippi must be licensed or permitted by the MDMR before beginning operations.
Shrimp season shall close at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 2024, except in waters located south of the Intracoastal Waterway. Additionally, all waters located south of the Intracoastal Waterway and west of the Gulfport Ship Channel shall close to shrimping activities except live bait shrimping at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 2024.
This order will take effect and be in force from and after 6:00 a.m. May 22, 2023. For additional information contact the MDMR at 228-374-5000, the Mississippi Shrimp Information Hotline at 866-938-7295, or write to the MDMR at 1141 Bayview Ave., Biloxi, Mississippi 39530.
Ordered this the 15th day of May, 2023.
