Georgia officials contemplating whether to extend the commercial and recreational food shrimp season into the new year because more shrimp boats spend more time in port than trawling. Georgia Department of Natural Resources biologists expect to issue a recommendation Monday about when to close state waters, which extend 3 miles offshore.
It is said that the recommendation will go to DNR Commissioner Chris Clark, who will decide whether to extend the harvest. By state law, the recreational and commercial food shrimp season automatically closes Dec. 31 each year unless the DNR extends it, as it has done routinely for 30 years. Shrimp abundance and size, along with other scientific data collected by DNR biologists during monthly surveys, also are key factors considered.
Pat Geer, research and surveys program manager for the DNR’s Coastal Resources Division, said that the facts and figures are conflicting. He added that the size of the shrimp being caught is mixed, but generally it’s been smaller than normal so far in December compared to previous years. Geer said abundance also is below normal for December compared to the past.
Shrimping is Georgia’s largest seafood industry. Historically, it has been a major contributor to the economy of Chatham, McIntosh, Glynn and Camden counties, which is home to most of the state’s shrimping fleet. Geer told that the number of pounds per trip harvested has been going up from past years because the guys are fishing more efficiently.
