Feds follow South Carolina’s lead, close all waters because of low temperatures
Commercial shrimping is closing in state and federal waters off the South Carolina coast effective Feb. 13 at one minute past midnight because of prolonged periods of cold water and its effects on brown, pink and white shrimp.
The fishery will remained closed through May 31. South Carolina closed shrimping in its waters earlier, with the feds announced their closure on Monday. South Carolina fishery managers requested the closure because water temperatures have been lower than 9 degrees celcius for an extended period of time.
During the closure, no one may trawl for brown, pink, or white shrimp in federal waters off South Carolina. Any vessel trawling in a part of a closed area that is within 25 nautical miles of South Carolina state waters must use trawl nets with a minimum mesh size of four inches or greater.
Possession of brown, pink, or white shrimp is prohibited on board a vessel in the closed area unless the vessel is in transit through the area, and all nets with a mesh size of less than four inches, as measured between the centers of opposite knots when pulled taut, are stowed below deck.
The federal closure will be effective until the ending date of the closure in state waters, and may end earlier based on a request by South Carolina. In no case will the federal closure remain effective after May 31, 2014.
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