The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) has set the opening date for the 2023-2024 shrimp season in state territorial waters for Monday, May 22 at 6 a.m.
All regulations of the MDMR will be in full force and effect, and all boats engaged in catching and transporting shrimp from Mississippi waters must be licensed or permitted by the agency before beginning operations.
Recreational and commercial shrimp season north of the Intracoastal Waterway will close on Jan. 1, 2024. For areas south of the Intracoastal Waterway and west of the Gulfport Shop Channel, shrimp season will close at 12:01 a.m. on May 1, 2024. Licensed live bait shrimping is open year-round in designated areas.
Staff will continue to sample prior to the opening date. The shrimp season opening date may be postponed if sampling indicates movement of large numbers of juvenile brown shrimp into this area.
Additionally, Marine Patrol officers will be available to perform dockside courtesy inspections of Turtle Excluder Devices upon request of shrimpers. Shrimpers requesting courtesy inspections should contact Marine Patrol at 228-523-4134.
For more information, the Mississippi Shrimp Information Hotline can be reached at 866-938-7295.
