Shrimp

Species and Scientific Names

• Brown Shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus)

• Pink shrimp (Farfantepenaeus duorarum)

• White shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus)

• Royal red shrimp (Hymenopenaeus robustus)

• • Season:  
    • Texas Closure – Trawling prohibited from thirty minutes after official sunset on May 15 to 30 minutes after official sunset on July 15. Trawling, except trawling for royal red shrimp beyond 100-fathom depth contour, is prohibited in the Gulf EEZ off Texas.

Note: The Regional Administrator may adjust the closing and/or opening date of the Texas closure to provide an earlier, later, shorter, or longer closure, but the duration of the closure may not exceed 90 days or be less than 45 days.

• • • Southwest Florida seasonal trawl closure– Trawling prohibited from January 1 to 1-hour after official sunset on May 20^th. Trawling, including trawling for live bait, is prohibited.

• • • Tortugas shrimp sanctuary – Closed to trawling, except sub-areas open to trawling on the following dates:
      • TUVW – April 11 – September 30
      • WGV – April 11 – July 31
      • FQUT – May 26 – July 31

 

• • • Stone crab-shrimp closures – Zone closures created to separate shrimp trawling and stone crab trapping.
      • Zone I – Oct 5 – May 20 – trawling prohibited.
      • Zone II – Oct 5 – May 20 – trapping prohibited.
      • Zone III – Oct 5 – May 20 – trawling prohibited.
      • Zone IV – Dec 2 – Apr 1 – trawling prohibited. Oct 5 – Dec 1 & Apr 2 – May 20 – trapping prohibited.
      • Zone V – Dec 1 – Mar 15 – trawling prohibited. Oct 5 – Nov 30 & Mar 16 – May 20 – trapping prohibited.

Note: Stone Crab managed by FWC – no longer included in the federal management plan.

 

• • Zone 1 – Closed to trawling October 5 – May 20

• • Zone II – Closed to stone crab trapping October 5 – May 20

• • Zone III – Closed to trawling October 5 – May 20

• • Zone IV – Closed to stone crab trapping October 5 – December 1 & April 2 – May 20 – Closed to trawling December 2 – April 1

• • Zone V – Closed to stone crab trapping October 5 – November 30 & March 16 – May 20 – Closed to trawling December 1 – March 15

• • Permit:  Federal shrimp permit required for all vessels that intend to fish for shrimp in federal waters. An endorsement is required for royal red shrimp.
  • Gear:  Shrimp trawlers must have a bycatch reduction device and an approved turtle excluder device installed in each net that is rigged for fishing.

Note: Brown, white, and pink shrimp are not managed with annual catch limits.

Commercial ACL for royal red shrimp – 337,000 pounds tail weight.

Royal red season opens January 1 and closes when the quota is projected to be reached.