Georgia DNR to Open 2012 Whelk Season
OutdoorHub 01.20.12
Brunswick, GA (January 20, 2012) – Georgia Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Mark Williams has announced that Georgia’s whelk trawl harvest season will open at 6:30 am on Friday January 27, 2012. The DNR will continue its policy of requiring a permit for the harvest of whelks in state waters between January 27th and March 31st, the last day of the 2012 whelk season. Fishers interested in whelk trawling must contact the Department to obtain a free letter of authorization (LOA) that must remain onboard the vessel when fishing. Fishers wishing to obtain a LOA are asked to contact Julie Califf at 912-264-7218.
Whelk trawlers must adhere to all requirements within the LOA, possess all proper licenses, including a commercial fishing license, and also must adhere to all gear regulations for whelk trawls, including the use of a minimum 4” stretch mesh and a certified Turtle Excluder Device (TED).
For more information on the closure of food shrimp harvest season or regulations associated with the whelk fishery, please call the Coastal Resources Division office at (912) 264-7218.
