In Georgia, USA, the commercial and recreational food shrimp season officially closed its doors on January 18, 2024. This closure impacts Georgia’s territorial waters within three nautical miles of the coast, while federal waters from three to 200 nautical miles offshore remain open for business.

Restricted Activities

The season’s closure means that commercial shrimping and recreational harvest using cast or seine nets for food shrimp are now prohibited in state waters. This restriction encompasses various areas, including beaches, creeks, and all other territorial state waters. However, it’s worth noting that bait shrimping in approved bait zones remains open for recreational use.

Extension Granted by Commissioner

Walter Rabon, the Department of Natural Resources Commissioner, exercised his authority to extend this year’s shrimp season. Originally set to close on December 31, 2023, the season was extended to January 18, 2024. This decision was based on data collected by the Coastal Resources Division (CRD), revealing a more robust shrimp population than the 20-year average.

Encouraging Data

CRD’s offshore data from December 2023 indicated an average of 2.04 pounds of shrimp per 15-minute trawl, surpassing the 20-year average of 1.93 pounds. Furthermore, the sampling showed that it took an average of 20.62 shrimp with heads on to weigh one pound, compared to the 20-year average of 29.45 shrimp. This suggests that individual shrimp were larger than the historical average, a positive sign for the industry.

Reporting and Commercial Impact

Commercial shrimpers have until February 10, 2024, to report their final landings of the season. As of today, shrimpers have reported harvesting an impressive 2,428,098 pounds of shrimp tails, earning a total of USD 8,809,426. It’s important to note that these figures represent the dockside value earned by shrimpers, not the retail revenue. Final landing reports are expected to increase these numbers, with complete seasonal tallies becoming available in late March or early April.

Record CPUE

This season witnessed the operation of 184 licensed shrimp trawlers in Georgia’s waters, with 117 belonging to Georgia residents. On average, these shrimpers achieved a catch per unit effort (CPUE) of 16.788 pounds of shrimp tails per hour spent trawling. This CPUE stands as the highest recorded by CRD, signaling a successful and productive season for the industry.

Industry Challenges

Despite the positive outcomes, the Georgia shrimping industry faces challenges. Diesel fuel prices continue to pose a hurdle, with the national average price of No. 2 diesel fuel sitting at USD 4.214, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Additionally, competition from farm-raised shrimp imported from other countries remains a persistent challenge for Georgia shrimpers, requiring ongoing adaptation and resilience in the face of a dynamic market.