19-07-CWS | January 28, 2019
BILOXI, Miss. – Officials with the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) announce the opening of the commercial fishing season for Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) to begin February 1, 2019, at 12:01 a.m. in Mississippi territorial waters.
The annual Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for commercial landings of Spotted Seatrout (SST) will be set at 50,000 pounds. The commercial TAC for the fishing season shall be divided into two periods as follows: 25,000 pounds Feb. 1 – May 31 and 25,000 pounds June 1 – Oct. 31.
In the event the commercial TAC is not met or exceeded in the first time period of Feb. 1 – May 31, the pounds shall be added or subtracted to the second time period of June 1 – Oct. 31.
The MDMR is currently accepting applications for SST endorsements. Beginning January 1, 2019, individuals commercially harvesting SST must possess a SST endorsement ($10.00), in addition to a current applicable harvester’s license. All previous SST endorsements expired as of Oct. 31, 2018.
To be eligible for a 2019 SST endorsement, the fisherman must complete an application and produce a copy of the appropriate filed IRS tax form showing the applicant’s taxable income for any year chosen from 2013 through 2018. Information on the application will be verified through trip tickets from that chosen year to determine that a minimum of 20 percent of the taxable income was derived from commercial fishing activities.
The endorsement will be valid for a one-year period (January 1 – December 31), at which time a new application with qualifying documents for the previous tax year must be submitted for a new endorsement.
For more information or questions on eligibility requirements, call the MDMR at 228-374-5000.
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.
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