DNR OKs limited opening of commercial shrimp season

Commercial shrimp trawlers were permitted into eight provisional areas on Tuesday, according to a news release from the S.C. Department of Natural Resources.

“With the assistance of several commercial shrimp trawlers we will continuing monitoring spawning progress this week,” said Mel Bell, Director of DNR’s Office of Fisheries Management. “If things continue to look good, we hope to be able to set the date soon for the opening of the entire General Trawl Zone. Things are setting up so far for a decent white shrimp roe crop and a productive spawn which will help us this coming fall.”

Provisional areas are opened when the overwintering white shrimp are large enough that limited harvesting won’t put the next year’s white shrimp at risk, according to the release.White shrimp spawn from late April through mid to late May.

Remaining waters will stay closed until DNR biologists can assess whether the peak spawning period for white shrimp has passed.

This story was originally published May 19, 2015 at 11:53 AM with the headline "DNR OKs limited opening of commercial shrimp season."