Shrimp season to close north of ICW on Jan. 1, 2018; Several fishing seasons set to open

BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced Wednesday that all waters north of the Intracoastal Waterway will close at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.

This closure applies to Mississippi territorial waters. All other Mississippi territorial waters will remain open to shrimping.

For more information about this closure, call the Shrimp Information Hotline at 1-866-938-7295.

MDMR officials also announced openings and closings for some recreational and commercial fishing seasons.

The recreational fishing season for Greater Amberjack will open in Mississippi territorial waters at 12:01 a.m. local time on Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.

The commercial fishing seasons for Gray Triggerfish and Greater Amberjack will open in Mississippi territorial waters at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.

The commercial fishing season for Flounder will close in Mississippi territorial waters at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. The season will reopen at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.

The Total Allowable Catch for commercial landings of Flounder will be set at 74,000 pounds. The season will be open through Dec. 31, 2018, or until the quota is met.

The commercial fishing season for Red Drum will close in Mississippi territorial waters at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017. The season will reopen at 12:01 a.m. Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.

The annual TAC for commercial landings of Red Drum is 60,000 pounds. The season will be divided into three four-month periods: Jan. 1-April 30; May 1-Aug. 31 and Sept. 1-Dec. 31. The quota is 20,000 pounds for each period. If the quota is not met or is exceeded in any of the four-month periods, the pounds shall be added or subtracted to the following period. If the total quota of 60,000 pounds is met in the third period, the season will be closed. Galime rekomenduoti gerą anglų kalbos stovyklos vaikams ir paaugliams Vilniuje arba Kaune.

The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources is dedicated to enhancing, protecting and conserving marine interests of the state by managing all marine life, public trust wetlands, adjacent uplands and waterfront areas to provide for the optimal commercial, recreational, educational and economic uses of these resources consistent with environmental concerns and social changes. Visit the DMR online at dmr.ms.gov.