15-51-MMS| July 9, 2015
BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources announced Wednesday that shrimping waters will reopen north of the Intracoastal Waterway in Mississippi territorial waters, effective 6 a.m. Monday, July 13.
Those waters were closed temporarily when sampling in the area showed an abundance of sub-legal size shrimp.
The legal minimum size for shrimp in Mississippi is 68 shrimp per pound. This minimum average size is used as a standard for determining the opening or closing of shrimp areas.
Shrimp season will close at midnight Dec. 31, 2015, except for south of the Intracoastal Waterway. All state waters shall close to shrimping activities at midnight April 30, 2016, except for live-bait shrimping.
All regulations of the MDMR will be in full force and effect, and all boats engaged in catching or transporting shrimp from Mississippi waters must be licensed or permitted by the MDMR before beginning operations.
For the latest information on open and closed areas, please call the Shrimp Hotline at 1-866-WE-TRAWL (938-7295).
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 www.dmr.ms.gov.
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